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.). Of these, she is the only one who has not played Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical version of Sunset Boulevard. She reprised her role as Else in the first series of the sequel, In Sickness and in Health. She is frequently named one of the four greatest living musical divas alongside Betty Buckley, Patti LuPone and Elaine Paige. Prior to the series, Dandy Nichols had been a minor comedy actress, appearing in many old British films. However, she was nominated several times: 1975 for Mack and Mabel, 1984 for Sunday in the Park with George, 1993 for The Goodbye Girl, and 2003 for Gypsy, as well as 1972 as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for On the Town. Alf often referred to Else as a "silly old moo" (the word "cow" would have been unacceptable to contemporary audiences). She has won a Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical twice: 1985 for Song and Dance and 1999 for Annie Get Your Gun.

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. In theatre, she has come to be associated with Stephen Sondheim's music, appearing in his Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and, in 2003, returning to Gypsy as "Mama Rose". In films she is remembered mainly for the movies she made with Steve Martin. She first attracted critical notice in the Off-Broadway spoof of 1930s musicals, Dames at Sea. In her teen years she appeared in The Most Happy Fella (1959), was an understudy for "Dainty June" in the touring company of Gypsy (1961), and was in The Penny Friend (1966) and The Girl In The Freudian Slip (1967).

She took tap lessons, and at the age of nine got her Equity Card (under the name of Bernadette Peters, to avoid ethnic stereotyping). She later appeared on Name That Tune and The Horn And Hardart Children's Hour. Her mother started her off in show business by putting her on the television show Juvenile Jury at the age of three and a half years. Her outstanding characteristics are her flawless complexion, bee-stung lips, kewpie-doll voice, and gift for light comedy.

Bernadette Peters is the stage name of Bernadette Lazarra (born February 28, 1948 in Ozone Park, Queens, New York), an actress and singer. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella - 1997. Into the Woods - 1991. Sunday in the Park with George - 1986.

Slaves of New York - 1989. Annie - 1982. Heartbeeps - 1981. Pennies from Heaven - 1981 (Golden Globe Award, Best Actress).

The Jerk - 1979. Silent Movie - 1976. Gypsy - 2003. Annie Get Your Gun - 1999 (Tony Award, Best Leading Actress in a Musical).

The Goodbye Girl - 1993. Into the Woods - 1987. Song and Dance - 1985 (Tony Award, Best Leading Actress in a Musical). Sunday in the Park with George - 1984.

Mack & Mabel - 1974. On the Town - 1971. La Strada - 1969. George M! - 1968.

Johnny No-Trump - 1967. The Girl in the Freudian Slip -1967. Dames at Sea - 1967.