Joan Francis (1st April, 1920 - 22nd November, 1995) was a British actress who portrayed Dot Greenhalgh in Coronation Street between 1961 and 1969. She made her Street debut in Episode 9 on 6th January 1961, though the character was initially credited as Dorothy Lane. She later appeared in the Street spin-off The Brothers McGregor. Joan's other credits include Z Cars and The First Lady. The daughter of a repertory company director, she had close associations with many of the cast having previously worked with Patricia Phoenix, Arthur Leslie and Bernard Youens while Peter Adamson had been best man to her husband at their wedding.
In 1969 Francis helped run the Navigation Hotel in Buxworth, Derbyshire which Pat Phoenix had just purchased. She also ran the Lion and Bell in Congleton, Cheshire in the early 1970s.