10 of Dame Barbara Windsor's funniest ever quotes
Dame Barbara Windsor, one of Britain’s most beloved entertainment stars, has died at the age of 83.
Having been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, and making the news public in 2018, Dame Barbara died at 8.35pm on Thursday at a London care home.
Her husband Scott Mitchell revealed the much-loved actor’s final weeks were “typical of how she lived her life” and “full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end”.
And as tributes continue to flood in from celebrity colleagues, many are reflecting on the wit and humour she brought to their lives.
From asking the PM Boris Johnson to “give her a kiss”, to joking that “we’re all the same height lying down” and crediting her “parts” for serving her well in her acting roles, it’s clear Dame Barbara Windsor had one heck of a sense of humour and it will be sorely missed.
Seems we could all learn one or two things from the wit and wisdom of Dame Barbara Windsor.
Here’s our pick of some of her funniest ever quotes.
Read more: What are the dementia risk factors?
On her height
To Larry Lamb, who played her love interest on EastEnders, after he remarked on her diminutive height.
“You are tall, never mind darling, we’re all the same height lying down.”
On her acting success
“They say an actor is only as good as his parts. Well, my parts have done me pretty well, darling.”
On ageing
“I found myself in the doldrums in the early Nineties. I was too old to play the dolly bird any longer and I looked too young to play a woman of my real age. No one ever saw me as the aunt, mother or grandmother.”
Read more: Dementia diagnosis at a 'record high': Here's how to spot the signs
On her humble roots
Discussing the 1963 premiere of the film Sparrows Can’t Sing which earned her a BAFTA nomination.
“There were thousands of people lining the Mile End Road, cheering and waving flags. Evidently Ronnie and Reggie (Kray) had turned them all out of their houses, saying: ‘Let’s welcome our little lady. Let’s show royalty how we are.’”
On her looks
“I am aware that I look good for my age. It's my genes. My dad looked incredibly young, so did my mother. And a younger husband helps. Scott is only 45. If he hadn't come along, I don't know what I'd have done.”
Watch: Stars pay tribute to Dame Barbara Windsor
On meeting the PM
To Prime Minister Boris Johnson after a meeting about dementia funding.
“Can I have a kiss?”
On living a child-free life
“I don't have any regrets about not having kids. I've just never had those maternal feelings. I am a nurturer by nature, but I nurture adults: my friends, the people I work with. I don't want to nurture children.”
Read more: Excessive napping could be a sign of Alzheimer's disease
On losing her temper on set
“Jessie Wallace was the first time I erupted. She was late, she was young. She's not like that any more. I lost my temper. It was silly and I burst into tears and ran up to the producer. I said I had been terrible and amateur.”
On feminism
“Well, I've worked since I was 13, and I've always paid my own way. But I do think they're cutting their nose to spite their face . . . Actually I feel sorry for a lot of the geezers today. I think we're cutting the balls off the geezers a little bit, you know what I mean. Let's still be feminine. Be feminist, but keep that word feminine in.”
On her image
“I am not like my image; I take my work so seriously. Everyone thinks I just bounce in, but I study and everything has to be just right.
