Dame Thora Hird (May 28, 1911 - March 15, 2003) is a veteran British actress born in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe. She is the mother of the actress Janette Scott.
Thora Hird is mainly associated with television comedy, notably the sitcoms, Meet the Wife, (a 1960s classic), and the current series of Last of the Summer Wine. However, she has played a variety of roles, including the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, and won a BAFTA Best Actress award for her role in one of Alan Bennett's monologues.
Her tireless work for charity and continued work on television in spite of old age and ill health have made her an institution. She is a DBE ("Dame").