Dandy Nichols

(The second series used Nichols' own death as an excuse to kill off the character and dealt with Alf's experience of widowhood.). The couple were married until 1989 (his death). She reprised her role as Else in the first series of the sequel, In Sickness and in Health. Together the couple had three children, Richard, Tamsin and Julie-Kate. Prior to the series, Dandy Nichols had been a minor comedy actress, appearing in many old British films. She divorced him and in 1961 married Laurence Olivier. Alf often referred to Else as a "silly old moo" (the word "cow" would have been unacceptable to contemporary audiences). Joan Plowright was first married to Roger Gage.

Dandy Nichols (1907, London - February 6, 1986) was an actress most noted for her role as Else Garnett, the long-suffering wife of the racially bigoted and misogynistic character Alf Garnett in the BBC sitcom Till Death Us Do Part. As of July 2003 she was performing in the stage production Absolutely! (perhaps) in London. After a brief hiatus to devote time to her family she has returned to the screen and can be seen in films such as Dennis the Menace, Enchanted April and Tea With Mussolini. In 1961 she was awarded a Tony for her role in A Taste of Honey on Broadway. Plowright continued to appear on stage and in films such as The Entertainer and The Three Sisters.

She appeared in The Chairs (by Eugène Ionesco), Major Barbara, Saint Joan and in 1958 she co-starred with future husband Laurence Olivier in the production of The Entertainer. In 1956 she joined the English Theatre Company and won the role of Margery Pincher in The Country Wife. Long known as a superb theatre actress, Plowright trained at the Old Vic Theatre School in London and made her stage debut in 1951 and her London debut in 1954. In addition to being Lady Olivier (later Baroness Olivier) she was made a Dame (DBE) in her own right in the New Year's Honours for 2004.

Joan Ann Plowright (born October 28, 1929 in Brigg, North Lincolnshire, England) is a British actress, widow of Laurence Olivier. Moby Dick (1956) (uncredited, as Starbuck's Wife) (her first film role). The Entertainer (1960) as Jean Rice. Three Sisters (1970) as Masha.

Avalon (1990) as Eva Krichinsky. Fisher. Enchanted April (1992) as Mrs. Martha Wilson.

Dennis the Menace (1993) as Mrs. The Scarlet Letter (1995) as Harriet Hibbons. Tea With Mussolini (1999) as Mary Wallace. Back to the Secret Garden (2001) as Martha Sowerby.

Goose! (2004) as Beatrice Fairfield.