Diana Leblanc (born 1943) is a Canadian television and film actress, best known to US audiences for her portrayal of Frannie Halcyon in the TV miniseries More Tales of the City (1998) and its follow-up Further Tales of the City (2001). These miniseries were sequels to Tales of the City (1994), which starred Nina Foch in the role of Frannie.
Early life and education Leblanc was born in Montreal and enrolled in the French program at the National Theatre School of Canada, switching to the English program in her second year. She was a founding member of the Soulpepper Theatre Company in Toronto and a member of the Neptune Theatre company in Halifax. Leblanc was artistic director for the Théâtre français de Toronto.
Career Leblanc had roles in the films Mahoney's Last Stand, Lies My Father Told Me and The Third Walker and the television series Swiss Family Robinson. She played Grace Elliott, the mother of Pierre Trudeau, in the 2005 television miniseries Trudeau II: Maverick in the Making. She also appeared in the television series North of 60.
As a director, she has worked not only in the theatre but in radio, directing 75 one-minute radio dramas for the Bronfman Heritage Minutes series, when it evolved from film into radio. Leblanc has directed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival including a 1994 production of Long Day's Journey into Night, at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal and at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. She has also directed productions for the Canadian Opera Company, Calgary Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria and the International Opera Centrum in Amsterdam. She continues to work in Toronto theatre as a director.
In 2015, Leblanc received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts, for her work in theatre. She has also received the Gascon-Thomas Award from the National Theatre School of Canada and a Gemini Award.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRole Notes1972Mahoney's EstateJoy1978 The Third WalkerThe Nun1982Jen's PlaceJennifer's Mother1992Oh, What a NightDora / Donald's mother2012 The SamaritanCelia2014Wet BumJudith
Television YearTitleRole Notes1962PlaydateElfieEpisode: "The Broken Sky"1963FestivalHedvig EkdalEpisode: "The Wild Duck"1966Henry VPrincessTelevision film1971–1974Dr. Simon LockeVarious roles4 episodes1973Lighten My Darkness1974–1976Swiss Family RobinsonElizabeth Robinson26 episodes1981 The Great DetectiveVeronica Batcherly2 episodes1989Friday the 13th: The SeriesJudith HornEpisode: "Crippled Inside"1993Bonds of LovePsychologistTelevision film1993North of 60Sister SimoneEpisode: "Sisters of Mercy"1994Madonna: Innocence LostRuth NovakTelevision film1995Lady KillerDr. Sachs1997 The Adventures of Shirley HolmesRebecca RatcliffEpisode: "The Case of the Second Sight"1998More Tales of the CityFrannie Halcyon6 episodes2001Further Tales of the City3 episodes2001 The Pretender: Island of the HauntedOceeTelevision film2004Snakes & LaddersTamlyn BarnesEpisode: "Squattergate"2005Trudeau II: Maverick in the MakingGrace Elliott TrudeauTelevision film2005, 2006This Is WonderlandJoan Demchek2 episodes2008Of Murder and MemoryGraceTelevision film2009 The Good Times Are Killing MeCelia Derby2010Living in Your CarJudge Puddicombe5 episodes2014Murdoch MysteriesCaroline HillEpisode: "The Death of Dr. Ogden"2015RemedyMarielle KavanaughEpisode: "Fight or Flight"2016Kim's ConvenienceMary3 episodes2017Private EyesMartha CasparyEpisode: "Now You See Her"2021SurrealEstateSister Mary EllenEpisode: "Ft. Ghost Child"
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