- Learned sign language so that she could converse with her deaf fans.
- She got her stage name from her daughter, who is called Dawn Elizabeth.
- Liz made her studio debut as Bedelia Conroy in Crown Court and was soon offered a bit part in Coronation Street as machinist Vera Duckworth, in which she was made a regular cast member, she stayed on for 36 years.
- Diagnosed with chronic emphysema in 2004.
- Has 4 children; 1 from her first marriage to Walter Bradley, Graham (b. December 1958). With her second husband she had Dawn Elizabeth (b.March 19, 1965), Ann-Marie (b. March 8, 1967), and Julie (b. November 9, 1968).
- Before turning to show business, she worked in a tailoring factory for four months, then took various jobs including a cinema usherette, shoe salesgirl and a light bulb seller in Woolworths.
- At the age of seven, she was involved in an accident which caused an injury to her top lip. Surgeons at St James Hospital in Leeds used skin from her bottom to repair the damaged lip.
- Was diagnosed with depression in 1984 after separating from husband Don following the revelation of an extramarital affair that Dawn had had. This resulted in her becoming an alcoholic, but she beat the illness in 2000.
- Good friends with Paul O'Grady and Barbara Windsor.
- She was awarded the M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honors List for her services to charity in Leeds.
- Is one of 8 Coronation Street (1960) actors to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards. The others are William Roache, Barbara Knox, Johnny Briggs, Betty Driver, William Tarmey, Helen Worth and Anne Kirkbride.
- Suffered a heart attack in 2013.
- Sister of Albert Butterfield (b. 1936) and Maisie Nelson (1945-2006).
- Has 6 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
- Aunt of Christopher (b. 1968) and Sarah Nelson (b. 1969), via sister Maisie.
- Daughter of Albert (1914-1984) and Annie (née Shaw) Butterfield (1916-1975).
- Was 7 months pregnant with her daughter Dawn when she married 2nd husband Don Ibbetson.
- Her acting style was influenced by character actresses Margaret Rutherford and Peggy Mount.
- Was in attendance at her oldest grandson Luke Ibbetson's wedding to Nicola Oxlade in Eaton Square, London on 19 December 2015.
- Her Lifetime Achievement Award from The British Soap Awards 2008 (2008) by her former Coronation Street (1960) co-star Key grip Kevin Kennedy. Kennedy's character Curly Watts had been Dawn's character Vera Duckworth's lodger on the show.
- Grandmother of Thomas Borso (b. October 24, 1987) via daughter Ann-Marie.
- Grandmother of Luke (b. June 1, 1984), Chelsey (b. March 13, 1990) and Courtney Ibbetson (b. October 11, 1991) via son Graham.
- Grandmother of Harris (b. January 23, 2008) and Safia Latif (b. December 3, 2010) via daughter Julie.
- Was unable to attend her grandson Thomas' wedding in Italy in June 2017 due to her emphysema and heart ailment.
- Maternal granddaughter of Arthur (1895-1957) and Gladys (née Thurwell) Shaw (1894-1975).
- Maternal great granddaughter of Harry (1852-1935) and Maria (née Watson) Thurwell (1855-1929).
- Married her 2nd husband Don Ibbetson at Leeds Registry Office with just their mothers and her son Graham present.
- Once auditioned for Laurence Olivier but was so overcome that she was speechless.
- June, one of her daughters , is an actress who has appeared in television plays.
- Worked as a cabaret entertainer and in television commercials before turning to acting,.
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