June Brown health: EastEnders star on beer and cigarettes as she predicted death ‘soon’ | Celebrity News | Showbiz & TV

The Bafta-nominated actress celebrates her 95th birthday today, making her the same age as the Queen. Like Her Majesty, June has provided her own service to the nation over the years, most famously as Dot Cotton in EastEnders. The chain-smoking launderette assistant, who loves to gossip and is committed to Christianity, is one of the long-running soap’s best-loved characters.

June’s iconic 35-year stint on the BBC programme came to an end two years ago as her character “moved to Ireland”.

The actress, who trained at the Old Vic Theatre School, said her declining eyesight made it increasingly difficult to read the scripts.

As well as TV and film roles, June also has a wealth of stage acting experience under her belt, including a string of pantomimes.

The national treasure has admitted she is now essentially in retirement at her house in Folkestone.

Although born in Suffolk, the star has said she enjoys her life in Kent, where she lived for years with her second husband Robert Arnold, who passed away in 2003.

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As she winds down from her illustrious career, June has not given up indulging in the things she loves.

In a 2019 interview with Radio Times magazine, the actress said she was likely to die “soon” but that she still enjoys drinking, smoking and eating chocolate.

She said: “I’m going to die of something fairly soon, so why not enjoy myself?

“[I] love red wine and also dark chocolate, even though I’m allergic to it and it makes me sneeze.

“And the Guinness helps me keep a bit of weight on.

In another interview with Great British Life magazine in 2020, June opened up about her retirement and whether the world would ever see Dot Cotton again.

She said: “As far as I’m concerned, that’s all over. It felt a bit strange after 35 years and I did get a sense of bereavement, but I really don’t think I’ll be going back.

“I know someone kindly said the door will be left open, but I can’t see me walking through it.

“I think we’ve done all we can with Dot and I’m not getting any younger.

“I might do some other bits of work, but because of my sight problems it’s not so easy to read scripts now.

“I suppose I am in retirement and what a great place to retire in. A lot of people would like to retire to Kent – I am here already and I like it very much.”

June and her husband Robert Arnold had six children together, but she was sadly widowed in 2003.