Anna Dawson

Anna Dawson
Born	Bolton, Lancashire, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1965–1995
Spouse	John Boulter

Anna Dawson is an English actress and singer.

Born in Bolton, Lancashire, Dawson spent part of her childhood in Tanganyika, where her father worked. She attended the Elmhurst Ballet School and after training at the Central School of Speech and Drama, she learned her craft by playing in repertory theatre companies.^[1]

Dawson went on to star in several West End musicals. She featured in episodes of Dixon of Dock Green during the 1960s, The Benny Hill Show during the 1980s,^[2] and played Hyacinth Bucket's sister Violet ("the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony") in the final series of the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, though her character was only featured on screen briefly in four episodes.

Dawson was married to former Black and White Minstrel Show soloist John Boulter until his death in December 2025.^[3]

TV credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964–1966	Dixon of Dock Green	Mary Crawford	23 episodes
1965	Mother Goose	Squire's daughter	TV film
1971	Slapstick and Old Lace	Various
	Brian Rix Presents...		7 episodes
1973	Z-Cars	Sheila Clowes	Episode: "Domestic"
1975–1989	The Benny Hill Show	Various	9 episodes
1976–1978 & 1980	What's on Next?
1976-1981	The Generation Game	Self	4 episodes
1977	Hi Summer!
	Larry Grayson	Bubbles	3 episodes
	Miss Jones and Son	Carole	Episode: 'Baby Talk'
1978	Bernie		1 episode
	One-Off 'ITV Votes for Women' 50th Anniversary Gala
	Whodunnit?	Panellist	5 episodes
1978-9 and 1985	Blankety Blank
1978-1989	Give Us a Clue	Guest Contestant	8 episodes
1978	The Morecambe & Wise Show	Bandaged Newsreader / Lola	Christmas Special
1978–1979	Rings on Their Fingers	Deirdre	4 episodes
1979	The Dick Emery Special	Various
1979	Leslie Crowther's Scrapbook
1979, 1982 and 1986	3-2-1	Guest Entertainer	10 episodes
1980	Robin's Nest	Atalanta	Episode: "Just an Old-Fashioned Girl"
	Life Begins at Forty	Jill Simpson	4 episodes
	The Crowther Collection	Various
	The Dick Emery Hour
	The Allan Stewart Show
1980–1981	The Kenny Everett Video Show	Carla / Various	8 episodes
1980–1982	Keep It in the Family	Mrs Morgan / Woman Juror	2 episodes
1981	It's A Celebrity Knockout	Celebrity Contestant (Budgie)
	The Jim Davidson Show		1 episode
	The Paul Squire Show
	The Kenny Everett Video Cassette	Carla
1982	Royal Variety Performance	Introductory Sequence
	The Generation Game	Guest during run-up to 1982 Wimbledon Pantomime
	The Good Old Days	Guest Entertainer	3 episodes
1983	All for Love	Wife	Episode: "Down at the Hydro"
1984	The Steam Video Company	Various	6 episodes
1985	The New Statesman	Enid Vance	6 episodes
1986	Crosswits	Celebrity Panellist
	Rainbow	Self	Episode: "Decision Making"
	The Sooty Show	Guest (Swimming Pool etc.)
	Smith & Jones	Various	Episode: "Football Supporters on a Plane"
	Super Gran	Wendy Whiplash	Episode: "Supergran and the World's Worst Circus"
1988	Bad Boyes	Bonnie	7 episodes
1991	Benny Hill: Unseen	Various	TV film
1992	Don't Tell Father	Stella Whipple	3 episodes
1995	Keeping Up Appearances	Violet	4 episodes

Filmography

Year	Title	Role
1973	O Lucky Man!	Becky
	Love Thy Neighbour	Betty
1975	The Sexplorer a.k.a. The Girl From Starship Venus	Store Manageress
1977	Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers	Glam #1
1981	If You Go Down in the Woods Today	Courting woman
1984	Gabrielle and the Doodleman	Wicked Witch
	Bloodbath at the House of Death	Nurse

References

1. "Unsung Heroines". musical-theatre.net. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
2. Ross, Robert (1999). Benny Hill: merry master of mirth; the complete companion. London: Batsford. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-7134-8422-9. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
3. John Michael Boulter. Legacy. Retrieved 27 December 2025.