June Brown Remembered As Stars Pay Tribute To Dot Cotton Actor Following Her Death

The EastEnders legend died at her home on Sunday at the age of 95.

Tributes have been pouring in for EastEnders icon June Brown following her death at the age of 95.

The actor was best known to millions as Albert Square’s legendary bible-quoting, chain-smoking character Dot Cotton.

Adam Woodyatt, who played Ian Beale in the long-running BBC soap, said he was “lost for words” following his former co-star’s death on Sunday.

“I’m lost for words, something June never was,” he wrote on Instagram. “So many memories, so much fun.

“Just purely and simply an incredible woman who had the most incredible life and career, I was fortunate to have shared a small part of it. They never made you a Dame (we did try), but to me you will always be Dame Brown.

Letitia Dean – best known as Sharon Watts – said: “My beloved June, I truly loved you. Not just a phenomenal actress but a very dear friend.

“Oh the fun we have had over the years! I will never stop loving you, THANK YOU for your kindness and your generosity and for loving me the way you did.

“Sending all my dearest love to June’s family at this devastating time. God bless you June.”

Kathy Beale actor Gillian Taylforth said: “I’m truly heartbroken by this news. June Brown OBE, MBE, was an amazing woman and a truly wonderful actress. I shared many scenes with her over the years and she was always someone I looked up to and learnt from.

“There will never be another June Brown and I’m sending all my love to her family.”

Natalie Cassidy – better known as Sonia Fowler – said: “I am so sad to hear the news about My June. She taught me everything I know. We laughed, we drank red wine, we learnt lines. She told me all her stories which I will keep close to my heart forever and she knew all of mine.

“We have lost a legend and the best character actress EastEnders has ever seen and will ever see. I will miss her so much.”

Denise Fox actor Diane Parish said: “In my humble opinion, June Brown WAS EastEnders. Her voice, her mannerisms, her character, her look were all carefully crafted choices by one of the country’s most beloved and gifted actors.

“June was all about craft and character. Her determination to uphold these things and to respect the true work in character acting, kept our ship stable and remain in the soul of the show. After all, that is what makes great television and June and Dot Cotton are National Treasures.

“I’ll be drinking a sherry for her tonight to thank her for all she gave us and personally, what I learned from her.”

Many more of June’s EastEnders cast mates – past and present – have also paid tribute on social media...

Maisie Smith Instagram
Maisie Smith Instagram
Maisie Smith Instagram

Rest in perfect peace ‘Grandma Dot’. I have never met anyone who cared about their craft so deeply. An artist, a national treasure, an icon & an inspiration to us all. You will always live on in the hearts of everybody you touched. There will never be anyone quite like June 💜 https://t.co/MW0H6SAm6H pic.twitter.com/nd1zHZjuyp

— Milly Zero (@millyzero) April 4, 2022

A very sad day. I never had the pleasure of meeting/working with the mighty June Brown - but we adored watching her on the telly box. What a legacy June leaves behind. #Eastenders would not have been the same without her. Love & strenght to #Eastenders & June's loved ones. RIP💔 https://t.co/oGv0EvelF6

— Balvinder Sopal (@BalvinderSopal) April 4, 2022

Darling June
Irreplaceable You
💔💔💔 https://t.co/JwEcdhDpeF

— Emma Barton (@EmmaBarton) April 4, 2022

Really hard not to completely love her. A force of nature.
RIP dear June x pic.twitter.com/PhQtxtyTMC

— Ricky Champ (@RickyChamp1) April 4, 2022

An absolute icon & powerhouse of a woman ❤️ RIP June Brown 🙏🏽 x https://t.co/ESYk6DbLUT

— Tony Clay (@tony_clay76) April 4, 2022

Super-professional. Always brilliant. True legend. RIP June 🙏🕊😔

BBC News - EastEnders veteran June Brown dies at 95https://t.co/fDilJOvD7P

— Davood Ghadami (@DavoodGhadami) April 4, 2022

Cant recall what this shoot was for 😬 but it was the first time I met June. She was warm, witty and really youthful. She climbed into the drum of the dryer at one point insisting her head poking out of it would make for a funnier shot. She was probably right. RIP 🙏 pic.twitter.com/JwumczI4eC

— Davood Ghadami (@DavoodGhadami) April 4, 2022

I’m breaking my Twitter silence to pay tribute to my dear, darling friend June Brown who died at home last night.
Below is something I posted on Instagram last night for her without naming her.
She took this country on amazing journey and helped to change it for the better. Love. pic.twitter.com/gQjvn66sV4

— Michael Cashman 🇺🇦🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🇮🇪🇬🇧 (@mcashmanCBE) April 4, 2022

Other stars and organisations from the entertainment world have also paid their respects to the beloved star...

June Brown, amongst all her other wonderful human qualities and achievements, will be remembered as a tireless and fearless LGBT ally - especially during the darkest days of HIV/AIDS and Section 28… it was a privilege to know her

— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) April 4, 2022

We love you #junebrown #EastEnders ❤️❤️❤️RIP let’s raise a glass of sweet sherry in your honour

— Bruno Tonioli (@BrunoTonioli) April 4, 2022

RIP June Brown, 95.
A wonderfully talented actress whose long-time portrayal of irascible fag-puffing Dot Cotton in EastEnders was one of the all-time great performances in British Television.
June was such a funny, feisty, fabulous lady off screen too. Very sad news. pic.twitter.com/qhg2qqUdcd

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 4, 2022

1/3“We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE sadly passed away last night. There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten... pic.twitter.com/7OYtHJiIUb

— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) April 4, 2022

We're deeply saddened to hear of the death of June Brown, who played one of EastEnders' longest-running and much-loved characters, Dot Cotton, and who was nominated for a BAFTA in 2009. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/m3RkWN2TEC

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) April 4, 2022

June joined EastEnders in 1985 and remained with the soap for eight years.

She returned in 1997 and Dot stayed on the Square until 2020, making an off-screen exit when the character went to live in Ireland with her grandson.

June announced the bombshell news of her exit with little fanfare, revealing in a podcast interview she was unhappy with Dot’s recent storylines.

During her years in Walford, Dot had a number of big plots, including euthanasia, cancer and homophobia.

The character was famed for her relationship with bad boy son ‘Nasty’ Nick, played by John Altman, as well as her later marriage to Jim Branning, played by John Bardon.

June won several awards for her portrayal of Dot, including a lifetime achievement honour at the 2005 British Soap Awards, while she was also nominated for the best actress prize at the TV Baftas for her standalone episode of the soap.

In December 2021, June was made an OBE in the New Year Honours for services to drama and to charity, having previously been made an MBE.

Before joining EastEnders, June also had roles in Coronation Street, Doctor Who, Minder and The Bill, as well as costume dramas The Duchess Of Duke Street and Oliver Twist.

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