Diane Appleby

(****-****). Actress.

(1942?*- 2006) British actress. Commenced her acting career on stage in London's West End and in repertory theatre. She also appeared in a BBC1 TVseries, The First Lady (1968/9). In 1969 she came out from England to star in Rex Garner’s production of Chase Me Comrade with Leslie Phillips and stayed on to do many further productions at the Academy and other theatres, often working with Garner. Other stage productions include The Lionel Touch (1971), Boeing-Boeing (1972), John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men (1975), Alan Ayckbourn’s Absurd Person Singular(co-directed by John Hussey and Mannie Manim, Market Theatre 1977), , There Goes the Bride (at the Academy Theatre),The Bed (1980), Cahoots (1988), Jeffrey Archer’s Beyond Reasonable Doubt (1989). In 1971, Diane made the break into South African radio and ended up playing in many series. Her first roles were in the play series, such as Lux Radio Theatre and Playhouse 71, before landing the regular role of secretary Sally Walker in Jessica Marlowe. In late 1971, she was offered the role of Emma Peel in the SABC’s world-renowed radio version of The Avengers. Her other famous role was the female lead in the children’s series, Jet Jungle. Diane went on to enjoy a successful career as a Dubbing Director in the South African film and television industry. Married to Joe Stewardson and had * children.