Desmond’s star Carmen Munroe made a dame Desmond’s star Carmen Munroe has been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to drama in the New Year Honours list.
Dame Carmen, 92, is best known for her role as Shirley Ambrose, the caring wife of London barber Desmond Ambrose (Norman Beaton) in the 1980s and 1990s Channel 4 sitcom.
Dame Carmen founded black theatre company Talawa in 1986 alongside Mona Hammond, Inigo Espegel and Yvonne Brewster to provide opportunities to diverse actors in response to marginalisation.
Recently, Dame Carmen appeared in the CBBC children’s drama show The Dumping Ground, a spin-off to The Story Of Tracy Beaker, and on Holby City as a therapist.
In 2007, Dame Carmen became an OBE in the 2007 Birthday Honours for her services to drama.
