Dorothea Bland was born near Waterford City in Ireland on 22 November 1761,[2][3] and was baptised at St Martin in the Fields, Middlesex on 5 December of that year.

Her siblings were: Her paternal grandparents were Nathaniel Bland (1695/96, in Killarney, County Kerry – 1760), Vicar General of Ardfert and Aghadoe, and Judge of the Prerogative Court of Dublin, Ireland, and his second wife Lucy (née Heaton).

[4] The reports about Jordan's maternal ancestry are unproven; Grace Phillips has been described as the daughter of a Welsh clergyman, whose parish was at Trelethyn.

Some sources claim that she made her debut in 1777 in Dublin as Phoebe in As You Like It, whilst others suggest she premiered as Lucy in the Interlude The Virgin Unmask'd, on 3 November 1779.

[7] The knowledge of Jordan's time and other roles performed in Ireland is fragmentary; however, she is known to have played Priscilla Tomboy in Bickerstaff's The Romp, Anne in Richard III, and Adelaide in the tragedy The Count of Narbonne.

[6] At the Smock Alley Theatre, under the management of Richard Daly, Jordan began playing male roles in the company's "reversed" cast.

Through Wilkinson's support and Jordan's hard work and good nature, she was eventually able to win over the people before the company returned to York.

She took the offer and performed for Wilkinson's company for a final time on 9 September 1785 before departing to London with her mother, two-year-old daughter, and sister Hester.

Although no specific dates can be sourced, Dora is believed to have performed the role of Lady Teazle in Sheridan's The School for Scandal before she arrived in London.

The Morning Post the next day reported on her performance:[15] Nature has endowed her with talents sufficient to combat and excel her competitors in the same walk.

Her person and manner are adapted for representing the peculiarities of youthful innocence and frivolity; and her tones of voice are audible and melodious.Gradually, it came to be recognised that her talent lay in comedy.

[16] Audiences also enjoyed her performances in such breeches roles[17] as Viola in Twelfth Night,[11] Sir Harry Wildair in The Constant Couple, and William in Rosina.

He "felt hopeful" of being accepted, but her mother regarded him as unsuitable, and Jordan returned to Dublin intent on success in the theatre.

[34] Together they had 10 illegitimate children, all of whom took the surname FitzClarence: During this time, Jordan was granted a yearly stipend of £1,200 (equivalent to £180,000 in 2023), but she continued to perform at both Drury Lane and Covent Garden as well as on provincial tours until her 1811 separation from Prince William.

Half of her stipend was specifically earmarked for the care of the children with a stipulation stating that in order to continue receiving that money, and retain custody, Jordan must not return to the stage.

Jordan had written letters to British theatres and newspapers pleading with them to rehire her, acknowledging her previous affairs and business dealings with some of her past companions.

During this time, both her mental and physical health declined, and she suffered from "bilious attacks, pains in her side, swollen ankles, shortness of breath and increasing general weakness".