Elizabeth Estensen (born 10 August 1949) is an English actress, known for playing Diane Sugden on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale from 1999 to 2021, with a guest stint in 2022. She has also made appearances in various British television series, including The Liver Birds, T-Bag and Coronation Street.
Early and personal life Estensen was born on 10 August 1949 and had a Norwegian grandfather, from whom she inherited her surname. She grew up in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham. Her mother was a primary school teacher, and her father was a merchant seaman and solicitor's clerk. Estensen considered becoming a speech therapist, but signed up for a Drama and English teaching course at Manchester Polytechnic instead. Estensen has been married to husband Philip Allen since May 1983, and the pair have a son together, James Otto Allen.
Career Following graduation from Manchester Polytechnic, she moved to Liverpool and joined the Everyman repertory company. While appearing in a production of John, Paul, George, Ringo ... and Bert, she was noticed by actress Nerys Hughes, who was looking for a replacement for Polly James in her sitcom, The Liver Birds. Estensen was cast as Carol Boswell, her debut television role, in 1975. After The Liver Birds concluded in 1979, Estensen made appearances in films and series including T-Bag and Far from the Madding Crowd. Between 1996 and 1998, she appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Pam Middleton. Then in 1999, she was cast in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as series regular Diane Sugden, a role she has played since. In 2007, she won a shared award at the British Soap Awards for Spectacular Scene of the Year, which saw a house collapse that her character was involved in. In September 2021, Estensen confirmed that she had filmed her final scenes as Diane in Emmerdale. Her final episode was broadcast on 29 October. However, Estensen agreed to return to the soap in October 2022 for a guest stint, for the show's 50th anniversary.
Filmography Year Title Role1975–1979 The Liver Birds Carol Boswell1976 Within These Walls Lorna Rogers1977 Play for Today: Our Day Out Susan1980 The Adventure Game Herself1984 Danger: Marmalade at Work Wendy Wooley1985–1989 T-Bag Tallulah-Bag 1993 The Bill Mrs. Smith1993 Casualty Madeleine Howard1993 The Upper Hand Patsy1995 A Touch of Frost Susan Mackintosh1995–2000 Mike and Angelo Daphne Fawkes-Bentley1995 Pie in the Sky Evelyn Wilkes1995 Cracker Reenie Wise1996–1998 Coronation Street Pam Middleton (17 episodes)1997 Last of the Summer Wine Educational Adviser 1999 Wing and a Prayer Mrs. Hillary Campbell1999 Polterguests Mrs. Swinton1999–2022 Emmerdale Diane Sugden (2,860 episodes)2001 In a Land of Plenty Rachel
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