Diane Clare
Born
Diane Olga Claire Georgine Dirsztay

(1938-07-08)8 July 1938
London, England
Died21 June 2013(2013-06-21) (aged 74)
UK
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1958–1968
Known forThe Haunting
Persuasion
The Reluctant Debutante
SpouseBarry England (1967–2009; his death)
ChildrenKate (born 1969) Christopher (born 1971)

Diane Clare (born Diane Dirsztay; 8 July 1938 – 21 June 2013) was an English film and television actress.[1][2]

Career

Clare started acting at a young age playing uncredited baby parts in films such as The Ghosts of Berkeley Square and The Silver Fleet, and for a time was one of the most highly paid babies in British films.[3]

At the age of 3, Clare was too old to continue playing babies so her career came to a standstill. "I'd been longing to play in pictures from the time I was dropped all those years ago because I'd become too old to play baby parts",[4] she told an interviewer in the late 1950s, after her comeback with roles in The Reluctant Debutante and Ice Cold in Alex. She received excellent reviews from playing in the latter film, and one journalist wrote: "I forecast that Miss Diane Clare is going to be one of the big names among actresses in the future."[3]

She appeared in many horror films during the 1960s such as Hammer Horror's Plague of the Zombies during her career. In 1965, she had a small part as Julie (the girl at the food counter) in the "Death at Bargain Prices" episode of The Avengers.

Personal life

Diane Dirsztay was born on 8 July 1938 in Wandsworth, London. She lied about her age so she could study at R.A.D.A. After her film comeback in 1958, Clare attributed it to a 'lucky' black beret which she always wore to auditions. "It brings me luck," she told one journalist after appearing in Ice Cold in Alex, "I wore it when I went to the audition for Anna Massey's part [in The Reluctant Debutante], and again when I went to Elstree Studios for my film test." Clare retired from acting when she married the novelist and playwright Barry England (born 1932 – died 2009) in 1967; the couple had two children, Kate (born 1969) and Christopher (born 1971).[5] Her hobbies included dancing, riding, swimming and going to the cinema.[3]

Death

Diane Clare died on 21 June 2013, aged 74, from undisclosed causes.[6]

Filmography

Feature films
Year Title Role Notes
1958 Indiscreet Young Woman minor role, uncredited
Ice Cold in Alex Sister Denise Norton
The Reluctant Debutante Clarissa Claremont
1960 Let's Get Married Glad
1961 The Green Helmet Pamela
Out of the Shadow Mary Johnson
The Naked Edge Betty
Whistle Down the Wind Miss Lodge - Sunday School Teacher {{{last}}}
Lunch Hour Sheila minor role, uncredited
1962 Mrs. Gibbons' Boys – minor role, uncredited
Go to Blazes 'Girl lover'
The L-Shaped Room Nurse
1963 The Double Selena Osmonde
Tamahine – minor role, uncredited
The Haunting Carrie Fredricks
1964 Witchcraft Amy Whitlock
1966 The Plague of the Zombies Sylvia Forbes
The Wrong Box Mercy
The Trygon Factor Clare O'Connor
1967 The Vulture Trudy Lutens Starring role
1968 The Hand of Night Chantal final film role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1959 The Offshore Island Mary Verney Television film
Charlie Drake Episode: "The Return of Uncle Henry"
ITV Television Playhouse Rosemary

Doris		 Episode: "My Side of the Story"
Episode: "The White Sheep of the Family"
Episode: "The Lean Years"
Saturday Playhouse Faustina Crayle Episode: "Through a Glass Darkly"
Dixon of Dock Green Ellie Martin Episode: "A Piece of Pink Ribbon"
1960 Boyd Q.C. Helen Mackenzie Episode: "The Decoy Chick"
1960-1961 Persuasion Henrietta Musgrove 3 episodes
1961 Theatre 70 Margaret Episode: "News from Jerico
BBC Sunday-Night Play Susan Palmer
Patricia Clark		 Episode: "A Kind of Strength"
Episode: "Scene of the Accident"
Drama 61-67 Ann Horton Episode: "Drama '61: The Best of Everything"
Probation Officer Jenny 1 episode
1962 Armchair Theatre Jennie Episode: "Joker"
1963 It Happened Like This Diana Episode: "Will You Walk Into My Parlour"
Walter and Connie Waitress Episode: "Walter and Connie at the Seaside"
Hancock Fiona Episode: "The Politician"
Tjhe Human Jungle Miss Henry Episode: "The Vacant Chair"
The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre Selena Osmonde Episode: "The Double"
Moonstrike Yvette de Polin Episode: "Death Sentence"
First Night Prudence Episode: "A Local Boy"
1964 Sergeant Cork Kate Carstairs Episode: "The Case of Ormsby Diamonds"
Z Cars Marion Maynard Episode: "First Class Citizen"
Love Story Angela Thomas Episode: "A Girl Like Me"
1964-1965 The Brothers Karamazov Katya Episode: "Madonna"
Episode: "Witness"
Episode: "Judgement"
1965 Public Eye Julie Episode: "A Harsh World for Zealots"
The Avengers Julie Thompson Episode: "Death at Bargain Prices"
No Hiding Place Shirley Episode: "Danger: Wrong Turning"
1966 Redcap Sue Episode: "Strictly by the Book"
1965-1966 Court Martial Sergeant Wendy Episode: "Retreat from Life"
Episode: "Let No Man Speak"
Episode: "The Logistics of Survival"
Episode: "Silence Is the Enemy"
Episode: "Taps for the Sergeant"
Episode: "Judge Them Gently"
Episode: "Achilles' Heel"
1966 Double Image Anne Episode: "Impossible Odds"
1957-1967 ITV Play of the Week Diana Messerschmann
Phyllis Glenning
Miss Lawson
Celia		 Episode: "Ring Round the Moon"
Episode: "Kind Lady"
Episode: "Girl with a Difference"
Episode: "ITV Summer Playhouse #11: The Man Who Understood Women"
1967 Summer Playhouse Celia Episode: "The Man Who Understood Women"

References

  1. ↑ "Diane Clare profile". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Diane Clare dies aged 74". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 , Names to watch: Diane Clare.
  4. ↑ , Diane Clare Devotees.
  5. ↑ Diane Clare obituary at thetimes.co.uk (PAYWALL NOTE: subscription required for access to whole article)
  6. ↑ Diane Clare at IMDb
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