Dunham was born in Leuchars, Fife, the daughter of Willis Tomlinson,[citation needed] an English squadron leader stationed on the RAF base at Leuchars who died on 26 March 1975 and Catherine, maiden name Parissi of Greek background who died on 15 April 1991 [1] On stage, Dunham was a member of the Croydon Repertory Players in 1953.

[2] She played Nerissa in a 1961 production of The Merchant of Venice at the Old Vic theatre, sharing the bill with Barbara Leigh-Hunt and John Stride.

at London's Savoy Theatre, sharing the bill with William Mervyn, Vincent Ball, Jane Downs, and Viola Keats.

[4] Dunham's television work was extensive, and included appearances in The Avengers, No Hiding Place, Public Eye, The Sweeney, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, Father Brown, Coronation Street, Kisses at Fifty and The Cedar Tree.

[6] Her other film roles included Something to Hide (1972), Mistress Pamela (1974), The Incredible Sarah (1976), Lady Oscar (1979), Croupier (1998), and The Wolves of Kromer (1998).