
Born in Bolton, Lancashire, Dawson spent part of her childhood in Tanganyika, where her father worked. She 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. Dawson went on to star in several West End musicals. She featured in episodes of Dixon of Dock Green during the 1960s, The Benny Hill Show during the 1980s, and played Hyacinth Bucket's sister Violet ("the one with the Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony") in the final series of the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, though her character was only featured on screen briefly in four episodes. Dawson is married to former Black and White Minstrel Show soloist John Boulter.

Blankety Blank
TV • 1979

Keeping Up Appearances
TV • 1990

The Benny Hill Show
TV • 1969

The Kenny Everett Video Show
TV • 1978

Benny Hill Show
TV • 1980

O Lucky Man!
MOVIE • 1973

Bloodbath at the House of Death
MOVIE • 1984

The Girl from Starship Venus
MOVIE • 1975

Love Thy Neighbour
MOVIE • 1973

If You Go Down in the Woods Today
MOVIE • 1981

Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
MOVIE • 1977

Gabrielle and the Doodleman
MOVIE • 1984

Down at the Hydro
MOVIE • 1983

Kenny Everett - The Complete Naughty Bits
MOVIE • 2004

Benny Hill's World Tour: New York!
MOVIE • 1991

Granny Gets the Point
MOVIE • 1971