Joan Sims trained at RADA and began her career in 1950, going on to appear in more Carry On films than any other actress — 24 in total, with an unbroken run of roles from 1964 to 1978. Her range extended well beyond comedy: she played Gran in Till Death Us Do Part, Madge Kettlewell in Sykes, Madge Hardcastle in As Time Goes By, and made memorable guest appearances in One Foot in the Grave, alongside dramatic television work and regular pantomime performances. Across a five-decade career she became one of the most reliably funny and versatile character actresses of British film and television.