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Before the Year Dot
At sixteen I was very interested in palmistry. The fate line on my right palm had a distinct break at the age of thirty. It broke into two parts that ran for a quarter of an inch on parallel tracks. I used to look at it and wonder, 'What will happen to me when I am thirty that will change my life?'
Of course, it was Johnny's death. But, in fact, my life was changed twice by death.
June Brown is an institution - a classically trained actress and showbiz veteran, who has undoubtedly lived a full and fascinating life.
One of the few national treasures left not to have told her story, she is much-loved for her role as the chain-smoking Dot Branning in the long-running BBC soap, EastEnders, a character she has played with dedication and skill for over 25 years.
Before the Year Dot traces her colourful childhood in Ipswich with her beloved sisters, through the war with the WRENS, to her days as a gifted stage actress trained by the likes of Laurence Olivier, Michel Saint-Denis and Glen Byam-Shaw. Her legendary tours of the Young and Old Vic Schools saw her play some of her most memorable parts and cement her acting credentials.
In this hugely anticipated memoir, June recounts an enthralling early life. But it is also a life marked by two deaths that changed June forever - once when she lost her beloved sister, Marise, and a second time with the loss of her adored husband, Johnny.
June Brown tells her colourful story with candour and skill, and in her own words.
Of course, it was Johnny's death. But, in fact, my life was changed twice by death.
June Brown is an institution - a classically trained actress and showbiz veteran, who has undoubtedly lived a full and fascinating life.
One of the few national treasures left not to have told her story, she is much-loved for her role as the chain-smoking Dot Branning in the long-running BBC soap, EastEnders, a character she has played with dedication and skill for over 25 years.
Before the Year Dot traces her colourful childhood in Ipswich with her beloved sisters, through the war with the WRENS, to her days as a gifted stage actress trained by the likes of Laurence Olivier, Michel Saint-Denis and Glen Byam-Shaw. Her legendary tours of the Young and Old Vic Schools saw her play some of her most memorable parts and cement her acting credentials.
In this hugely anticipated memoir, June recounts an enthralling early life. But it is also a life marked by two deaths that changed June forever - once when she lost her beloved sister, Marise, and a second time with the loss of her adored husband, Johnny.
June Brown tells her colourful story with candour and skill, and in her own words.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 17, 2015
This book is a guddle. It's written in a very chatty style, which I don't mind, but it jumps all over the place, has no clear chronological structure, takes ages to go through the first 30 years of June's life then rushes through the rest and finishes up with being cast as Dot all in a hurry. It's so muddled in its timelines that I can't work out whether June's first daughter was from her first marriage or her second, or some other unmentioned man. June has had a fascinating life and has many interesting stories to tell, about her childhood and family, her time in the WRNS, and her acting career, but the book is so badly structured that reading it is like talking to an elderly person with dementia - you're just never quite sure who or when she's talking about.
November 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to find out how June brown got in to acting. A nice pleasant read
December 18, 2018
I was looking forward to this book but it was just so so. The book it’s self was lovely and the stories that June told were lovely but the timeline was really all over the place. One minute she was talking about being in a play the next she was talking about her first husbands affair. That also was a bit what the hell is going on did she leave him didn’t she leave him did she move out didn’t she move out. This was quite a hard book to read there was a a lot about her sister who died there was no real answer to how she got in to acting etc. Then at the end got married had 5 kids end
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2015
Wasn't a fan of this autobiography. It jumped around a lot which made it hard to follow. Found I had to keep re-reading parts to make sense of it.
Also, I thought there was a lot of irrelevant stuff in there.
There are chapters and chapters of detail on theatre she had done, then abruptly ended with her getting the part of Dot Cotton.
I can only assume there is going to be a follow up book.
Also, I thought there was a lot of irrelevant stuff in there.
There are chapters and chapters of detail on theatre she had done, then abruptly ended with her getting the part of Dot Cotton.
I can only assume there is going to be a follow up book.
May 30, 2017
I don't rate this much at all. I has a lovely chatty feel to it, but it's such a muddle of things. A very confusing time line that jumps back and forth. At times it isn't really clear which part of her life she is talking about.
Nowhere near enough information included either. Strangely left wanting more and not wanting more.
Nowhere near enough information included either. Strangely left wanting more and not wanting more.
April 23, 2020
Interesting life story of one of our Treasures
The early chapters of the War years and their aftermath were especially interesting, as were the days when June took up acting. But afterwards it becomes rather confusing.
Worth reading, though, even if you have to skip through some pages that refer to actors and actresses one has never heard of.
The early chapters of the War years and their aftermath were especially interesting, as were the days when June took up acting. But afterwards it becomes rather confusing.
Worth reading, though, even if you have to skip through some pages that refer to actors and actresses one has never heard of.
May 22, 2017
Her early years were quite interesting and amazing detail shes remembered! A strange life though, always staying with other people, rarely seems to have had a "home". Found some of it hard to follow, goes back and forward quite a lot.
July 24, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
I enjoyed this rather chaotic autobiography as I’ve always been interested in British theatre and life after WW2. I could hear it in June Brown’s voice, it’s a shame she didn’t record it as an audiobook. The author lived locally for many years and was well loved by the people of Croydon. It’s a shame there wasn’t a sequel, as since her recent death there has been a lot of interest in her. It’s a good bedtime read and quite enthralling.
I enjoyed this rather chaotic autobiography as I’ve always been interested in British theatre and life after WW2. I could hear it in June Brown’s voice, it’s a shame she didn’t record it as an audiobook. The author lived locally for many years and was well loved by the people of Croydon. It’s a shame there wasn’t a sequel, as since her recent death there has been a lot of interest in her. It’s a good bedtime read and quite enthralling.
October 17, 2017
A wonderful self-portrait!
June Brown's interesting and entertaining story is immediately engaging, especially for this avid Eastenders fan. She also provides an insider's look at acting life in the 1940's, 50's and later, which is quite fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed this book#
June Brown's interesting and entertaining story is immediately engaging, especially for this avid Eastenders fan. She also provides an insider's look at acting life in the 1940's, 50's and later, which is quite fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed this book#
October 18, 2017
I was really looking forward to this book but I got halfway through and just couldn't finish it. It just goes on and on about family and life in the 30's and 40's and halfway through took us up to her joining the WRENS. I just couldn't take anymore.
April 23, 2020
Fabulous life of a national treasure
July 1, 2022
interesting read not as detailed as i am used to but it was definately written by june brown and she isnt a writer so what do you expect.
April 27, 2023
It wasn't as good as I'd hoped it would be. Quite and interesting read tho. I hadn't realised that June had endured such tragedy in her lifetime. Xx
March 21, 2014
very good book, interesting read. really looking forward to the second one which I know will be far better
March 15, 2014
The clue is in the title before the year dot it does indeed stop as she gets the part of dot in eastenders found this book a little dull and dragged in parts not one i would recommend
March 10, 2014
Quite interesting about her early life but stopped short for me as it stopped just as she got the part in Eastenders.
June 10, 2014
Didn't finish it, found it a bit boring.
October 17, 2016
Interesti g book to read
I felt a lot was missed out of this boo k ,calls for a sequel I think,would be nice to read
I felt a lot was missed out of this boo k ,calls for a sequel I think,would be nice to read
April 5, 2016
Put the kettle on and enjoy listening to some interesting reminiscing about an interesting life.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews