Diane Clare (born Diane Olga Claire Georgine Dirsztay; 8 July 1938 – 21 June 2013) was an English actress.
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., Names to watch: Diane Clare.
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",, Diane Clare Devotees. 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."
She appeared in many horror films during the 1960s, most notably the Hammer Films production The Plague of the Zombies. 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). (PAYWALL NOTE: subscription required for access to whole article) Her hobbies included dancing, riding, swimming and going to the cinema.
Death Diane Clare died on 21 June 2013, aged 74, from undisclosed causes.
Filmography + Feature films Year Title Role Notes1958 Indiscreet minor role, uncredited Ice Cold in Alex The Reluctant Debutante 1960 Let's Get Married 1961 The Green Helmet Out of the Shadow The Naked Edge Whistle Down the Wind Lunch Hour minor role, uncredited1962 Mrs. Gibbons' Boys minor role, uncredited Go to Blazes The L-Shaped Room 1963 Tamahine minor role, uncredited The Haunting 1964 Witchcraft 1966 The Plague of the Zombies The Wrong Box The Trygon Factor 1967 The Vulture Starring role 1968 The Hand of Night 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 RosemaryDoris 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 PalmerPatricia 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" The 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 MesserschmannPhyllis GlenningMiss LawsonCelia 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"
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