Helen Lawson is a fictional character in the novel Valley of the Dolls written by Jacqueline Susann. Lawson is described as having been a very successful Broadway star for many years (Lawson is said to be based on the real-life Broadway actress Ethel Merman). Her age is never revealed, there are only vague hints, but she's probably supposed to have been born ca. 1900. Her theatre history is described briefly; she has held the lead in many fictional musicals such as Hit the Sky, Sunny Lady, Sadie's Place, Madame Bovary and Nice Lady, having followed two years of vocal studying and overnight success.