Battled alcoholism during her life, a battle she ultimately lost. She was said to be on a bottle of vodka a day. She died of hepatitis four days after her 53rd birthday. The actor, Brian Murphy, who played her on-screen husband in "George & Mildred" (1976), was at her bedside.
Trained at Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop that included such talent as Harry H. Corbett, Brian Murphy, Lionel Bart, Roy Kinnear, James Booth, Victor Spinetti and her future husband, Glynn Edwards. Sean Connery and Michael Caine were turned down for the company.