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 was married to former Black and White Minstrel Show soloist John Boulter.

Filmography

• 2004Kenny Everett - The Complete Naughty Bits — Carla
• 1994Benny Hill - Unseen — Various/Archive footage
• 1991Benny Hill's World Tour: New York! — Self/Various Roles
• Keeping Up Appearances — Violet
• Bad Boyes — Bonnie
• The New Statesman — Enid Vance
• 1984Bloodbath at the House of Death — Nurse
• 1984Gabrielle and the Doodleman — Wicked Witch
• The Steam Video Company
• 1983Down at the Hydro — Wife
• 1981If You Go Down in the Woods Today — Courting Woman
• Benny Hill Show
• The Crowther Collection
• Life Begins at Forty — Jill Simpson
• The Kenny Everett Video Show
• 1977Stand up, Virgin Soldiers — Glam
• Larry Grayson — Daphne / Weightlifter's Assistant, The New Neighbour / Nurse, Bubbles
• 1975The Girl from Starship Venus — Store Manageress
• 1973Love Thy Neighbour — Betty
• 1973O Lucky Man! — Becky
• 1971Granny Gets the Point — Boutique Assistant (uncredited)
• The Benny Hill Show

Appearances as themselves (1)

• Blankety Blank — Self