Anna F. Boulter (née Dawson; 27 July 1937 – 27 June 2026) was an English actress and singer, who had a career on stage and screen lasting three decades. She appeared in various theatre productions and had several roles in television and entertainment programmes including Dixon of Dock Green, Bad Boyes, The Benny Hill Show and The Kenny Everett Show. Her final acting role was as Violet in the BBC sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, before moving to a retirement village in New Zealand.
Life and career Anna F. Dawson was born in Bolton, Lancashire, on 27 July 1937. She spent part of her childhood in Tanganyika, where her father worked. Dawson 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.
During her career, Dawson appeared in several West End musicals and theatre productions, as well as making various appearances in television shows and entertainment programmes, which included Dixon of Dock Green, The Benny Hill Show, The Generation Game, Give Us a Clue and 3-2-1. Her later roles included Bonnie in Bad Boyes and Stella Whipple in Don't Tell Father, with her final role prior to retirement being as Hyacinth Bucket's sister Violet ("the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony") in the fifth and final series of the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances in 1995.
Dawson married former Black and White Minstrel Show soloist John Boulter in 1985. They subsequently moved to New Zealand where they lived in various retirement villages. They remained together until Boulter's death in December 2025.John Michael Boulter . Legacy. Retrieved 27 December 2025. Dawson died in Kerikeri, New Zealand, on 27 June 2026, aged 88.
Filmography Film Year Title Role1973 O Lucky Man! Becky Love Thy Neighbour Betty1975 The Sexplorer a.k.a.The Girl From Starship Venus StoreManageress1977 Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers Glam #11981 If You Go Down in the Woods Today Courting woman1984 Gabrielle and the Doodleman Wicked Witch Bloodbath at the House of Death Nurse Sources:
Television Year Title RoleNotes1964–1966 Dixon of Dock Green Mary Crawford23 episodes1965 Mother Goose Squire's daughterTV film1971 Slapstick and Old Lace Various Brian Rix Presents...7 episodes1973 Z-Cars Sheila ClowesEpisode: "Domestic"1975–1989 The Benny Hill Show Various9 episodes1976–1978, 1980 What's on Next? 1976–1981The Generation GameSelf4 episodes1977 Hi Summer! Larry Grayson Bubbles3 episodes Miss Jones and Son CaroleEpisode: 'Baby Talk'1978 Bernie 1 episode 'ITV Votes for Women' 50th Anniversary Gala One-Off special Whodunnit? Panellist5 episodes1978–1979, 1985 Blankety Blank 1978–1989 Give Us a Clue Guest Contestant8 episodes1978 The Morecambe & Wise Show Bandaged Newsreader/ LolaChristmas Special1978–1979 Rings on Their Fingers Deirdre4 episodes1979 The Dick Emery Special Various1979 Leslie Crowther's Scrapbook1979, 1982, 1986 3-2-1 Guest Entertainer10 episodes1980 Robin's Nest AtalantaEpisode: "Just an Old-Fashioned Girl" Life Begins at Forty Jill Simpson4 episodes The Crowther Collection Various The Dick Emery Hour The Allan Stewart Show 1980–1981 The Kenny Everett Video Show Carla / Various8 episodes1980–1982 Keep It in the Family Mrs Morgan / Woman Juror2 episodes1981 It's A Celebrity Knockout Celebrity Contestant (Budgie) The Jim Davidson Show 1 episode The Paul Squire Show The Kenny Everett Video Cassette Carla1982 Royal Variety Performance Introductory Sequence The Generation Game Guest during run-up to 1982 Wimbledon Pantomime The Good Old Days Guest Entertainer3 episodes1983 All for Love WifeEpisode: "Down at the Hydro"1984 The Steam Video Company Various6 episodes1985 The New Statesman Enid Vance6 episodes1986 Crosswits Celebrity PanellistRainbowSelfEpisode: "Decision Making" The Sooty Show Guest (Swimming Pool etc.) Smith & Jones VariousEpisode: "Football Supporters on a Plane" Super Gran Wendy WhiplashEpisode: "Supergran and the World's Worst Circus"1988 Bad Boyes Bonnie7 episodes1991 Benny Hill: Unseen VariousTV film1992 Don't Tell Father Stella Whipple3 episodes1995 Keeping Up Appearances Violet4 episodes Sources:
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