Before leaving Emmerdale last year, ELIZABETH ESTENSEN spent more than 20 years there.
Elizabeth Estensen, an actress, played the iconic Diane Sugden in Emmerdale and was central to some incredibly moving storylines. She may have left in October 2021, but she is still regarded as one of the ITV soap opera’s most beloved characters. Fans’ desire to learn everything there is to know about the actor who plays Diane is understandable.
Although Diane Sugden may be the role for which actress Elizabeth Estensen is best known, her career actually began long before she lived in the village.
She landed her first ever on-screen part in the drama Within These Walls back in 1976.
The Liver Birds, Jackanory, Wonders in Letterland, T-Bag Strikes Again, Happy Families, and In a Land of Plenty were the next films she appeared in.
Estensen even played Pam Middleton, Emma Brooker’s grandmother, in Coronation Street for two years (played by Alexandra Mardell).
The actress joined the cast of Emmerdale as Diane Sugden in 1999, one year after her time on the cobbles, and stayed there for 22 years.
She announced her departure from the drama last year, saying she would be retiring and traveling in her free time.
Diane in Emmerdale decided it was time for a change because she no longer felt completely at home in the community.
She ultimately left the country in October 2021 to begin a new life in Portugal.
How old is Emmerdale’s Diane Sugden star Elizabeth Estensen?
Elizabeth Estensen, who plays Diane in Emmerdale, was born on August 10, 1949, making her 73 years old.
She was one of the oldest characters in the soap opera when she left, having been around 51 when she joined the cast.
Chris Chittell, a fellow star who has played Eric Pollard on the show since the beginning, is 73.
Rodney Blackstock, played by actor Patrick Mower, is Diane’s ex-husband.
Although Elizabeth did permanently leave Emmerdale, she will make a brief appearance again in October to commemorate the soap’s 50th anniversary.
She will appear in several significant storylines that are scheduled to air during the significant birthday month.
One of them will be a severe storm that threatens the lives of many people in the village.
The actress’ return to Emmerdale was discussed by executive producer Jane Hudson in an interview.
“We always wanted to try and bring back some of our favorite characters during the 50th,” Hudson told Digital Spy.
Diane is a Sugden and she appeared in the show for a very long time. We adore Liz, the actress, as much as we adore the character.
“It just felt right to bring her back; she’s an old soul, the local expert who can offer support to a wide range of characters on a variety of levels.
The Emmerdale executive continued, “She’ll bring a calm to the storm,” as she hinted at what was to come.
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