Trivia

She died a month before she was to be awarded the DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1980 Queen's New Year Honours List for her services to entertainment.

One aunt, Nancy Astor, was married to Waldorf Astor, her aunt Irene to Charles Dana Gibson.

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1946 King's Birthday Honours List for her services to the Forces during World War II.

Daughter of Paul (1880-1953) and Nora Phipps (née Langhorne) (1889-1955).

Sister of writer Thomas Phipps.

A memorial service was held for her at Westminster Abbey, London on 7 February 1980.

Before performing she worked as a radio critic for The Observer newspaper.

Her mother married Maurice 'Lefty' Flynn in 1930.

Mother was Nora Langhorne of the Virginia Langhornes.

When she retired from the stage she started writing her memoirs.

During the war she made a short film 'A Letter From Home' about evacuee children directed by Carol Reed. She played an American woman looking after a child and Celia Johnson played a British mother.

As lyricist, co-wrote with composer Richard Addinsell many songs for revues and for her own one-woman shows.