Sunday People

SCANDALS FORGIVEN, BRITAIN’S SCREEN Diana’s p

- By Rod McPhee

BLONDE bombshell Diana Dors, whose wild drug-fuelled orgies outraged society, has finally won the recognitio­n of her home town.

For years Swindon snubbed Diana, the luscious lip lipped and curvy hipped star dubbed Eng England’s Marilyn Monroe.

The turbu turbulent life of Diana, who wed three times and included Elvis Presley in her many affairs,af eclipsed her career.

She descr described herself as “the only sex symbol Brit Britain has produced since Lady Godiva”. A And at the height of her fame then Archbi Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, bran branded her a “wayward hussy”.

In 1984 D Diana died of ovarian cancer aged only 5 52 and was treated as a dirty secret by th the Wiltshire town.

But no now, 33 years on, a £380 blue plaque, p paid for by an online crowdfundi­ng appeal, has been put up to mark he her birthplace.

Hanged

Local historian Graham Carter, 55, who set up the appeal, said: “We’re proud of h her in Swindon now.

“Diana wasw a proper star. She didn’t just turn up on Britain’s Got Talent. She was controvers­ialcontrov – but still a star.”

Diana’s son, Jason Dors- Lake, 47, granddaugh­ter,granddaugh Ruby Lake, and the star’s 1959 pink CadillacC were all at last week’s unveiling, which attracted a crowd.

Even before she was born in October 1931, Diana caused a scandal. Mum Winifred did not know if husband Albert Fluck or the lodger was the baby’s dad.

By eight Diana was obsessed with Hollywood stars such as Jean Harlow and Lana Turner. Six years later she lied about her age to join the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

At 16 she was signed to the Rank Organisati­on. Studio bosses nurtured her image as a sexy starlet. She changed her name from Fluck to Dors, something she latter described with typical wit.

She said: “They asked me to change my name. I suppose they were afraid that if my real name, Diana Fluck, was in lights and one of the lights blew…” She became the youngest registered owner of a Rolls-Royce at 21 and wore mink coats by day and slept under a mink coverlet at night.

She was soon called “the English Marilyn Monroe” but said: “I don’t want to be a carbon copy of Marilyn. I want to be England’s Diana Dors.”

Later she was honest in assessing herself. She said: “The figure was fabulous but my face was never much, little eyes and lips like rubber tyres.

“I did well as I was the first and only British blonde bombshell.hell.

“I was the first homegrownw­n sex symbol, rather like Britain’s ain’s naughty seaside postcards.””

At around the time of her first big-screen appearance,e, in 1949’ s Diamond City, shehe became pregnant by a busiinessm­an who insisted she had an illegal abortion.

In 1951 she made Lady Godiva Rides Again and became friends with bitpart actor Ruth Ellis, who later killed her lover and, in 1955, became the last woman hanged in Britain. Diana’s taste i Among the w Hamilton Gitt 1951 five weeks she had anothe

The couple b famous for the host at their ho

Stars Richar Keith Moon, ev Reggie Kray, were invited to affairs. Comedi of the man an affair w

of the pa

 ??  ?? BLONDE AMBITION Hot starlet Diana Dors poses in 1957 HISTORY: Plaque for Diana KISS AND TELL: Diana &
BLONDE AMBITION Hot starlet Diana Dors poses in 1957 HISTORY: Plaque for Diana KISS AND TELL: Diana &

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