Dianne Pilkington

Pilkington was born in Wigan. She trained at the Guildford School of Acting, graduating in 1997 with the Principal's Award.

Pilkington married Claude Pelletier, on 10 October 2010. Pilkington gave birth to their son, Hugo, on 26 December 2012.{{cite web | url=http://www.diannepilkington.co.uk/news.html | title=News | publisher=diannepilkington.co.uk | date=27 December 2013 | accessdate=15 February 2013 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406033256/http://www.diannepilkington.co.uk/news.html | archivedate=6 April 2013 | df=dmy-all }}

The couple later divorced, and Pilkington married actor Neil Roberts in September 2020.

Pilkington has had an impressive career beginning in 1997 when she joined the West End production of Les Misérables, Pilkington understudied the role of Fantine whilst in the production.

Following Les Misérables, Pilkington starred in the production of Tess, going on tour with the show prior to it appearing at the Savoy, she played the role of Marion. The production only ran for 10 weeks in the West End before closing on 8 January 2000.

Pilkington joined the cast of Sweeney Todd at the Bridewell Theatre later in 2000, a production she had played the role of Mrs Lovett in whilst training at GSA.

In late 2000 Pilkington was part of the original London cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Beautiful Game. She played the role of the Protestant girl as well as understudying the role of Bernadette.

In 2002 Pilkington originated the role of Kim in Boy George's musical Taboo. She appeared alongside Boy George at the Royal Albert Hall alongside other members of the original London cast.

It was in late 2002 that Pilkington joined the UK touring production of Beauty and the Beast playing Belle. She remained with the production into 2003.

Again in 2003 Pilkington originated another role in the West End, this time in Rod Stewart musical Tonight's the Night, as Mary at the Victoria Palace Theatre.

For the Christmas panto season of 2004–2005 Pilkington starred in the leading role in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs opposite Lily Savage.

In 2005 Pilkington starred in The Far Pavilions in the role of Belinda. Following this Pilkington again went on tour in the role of Grizabella in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. It was whilst on tour with the production that Pilkington met her husband.

After leaving the Cats tour in early 2007, Pilkington joined the West End production of Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theatre. She replaced Helen Dallimore as Glinda on 16 July 2007, after serving as the standby from April of that year.{{cite web|url=http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/WICKED_Cast_Change_Flashback_Kerry_Ellis_And_Dianne_Pilkington_20100327 |title=WICKED Cast Change: Flashback – Kerry Ellis And Dianne Pilkington |publisher=Westend.broadwayworld.com |date=27 March 2010 |accessdate=11 March 2013}} After three years in the company, she played her final performance on 27 March 2010 and was succeeded by Louise Dearman.

Immediately after leaving Wicked, Pilkington played the parts of Annabella Schmidt, Pamela, and Margaret in the West End production of The 39 Steps. She replaced Natalie Walter on 26 April 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/wickeds-dianne-pilkington-and-david-bark-jones-to-join-londons-the-39-steps-com-166473 |title=Wicked's Dianne Pilkington and David Bark-Jones to Join London's The 39 Steps |work=Playbill |date=4 March 2010 |accessdate=11 March 2013}} She ended her nine-month run on 29 January 2011 and was succeeded by Laura Rogers.{{cite web|url=http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/Rogers_Wright_Canavan_Kearns_Join_THE_39_STEPS_20110131 |title=Rogers, Wright, Canavan, Kearns Join THE 39 STEPS |publisher=Westend.broadwayworld.com |accessdate=11 March 2013}}

After leaving The 39 Steps Pilkington took part in a season of cabarets at Lauderdale House on 20 February 2011, performing many tracks from her album. Her guests at the cabaret included Jean-Claude Pelletier, Shimi Goodman & television actress Nicole Faraday. She was accompanied on piano by Christopher Hamilton.{{cite web |url=http://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/page.asp?ID=302&PID=10&PVID=308 |title=Lauderdale House |publisher=Lauderdale House |accessdate=5 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925114241/http://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/page.asp?ID=302&PID=10&PVID=308 |archive-date=25 September 2011 |url-status=dead }}

In the Chichester Festival 2011 Pilkington played the role of Amalia in She Loves Me, from 9 May 2011 until 18 June 2011, at the Minerva Theatre. {{cite web |url=http://www.cft.org.uk/dianne-pilkington |title=Dianne Pilkington | Chichester Festival Theatre |publisher=Cft.org.uk |accessdate=11 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130423202022/http://www.cft.org.uk/dianne-pilkington |archivedate=23 April 2013 }}

She starred as Sophie De Palma in the West End production of Master Class, which ran at the Vaudeville Theatre from January – April 2012.{{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Full-Cast-Announced-for-Tyne-Daly-Led-West-End-MASTER-CLASS-20111222 |title=Full Cast Announced for Tyne Daly Led West End MASTER CLASS |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |accessdate=11 March 2013}}

It was announced in April 2013 that Pilkington would take over the role Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre beginning 10 June 2013.{{cite web|author=Hemley, Matthew |url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production/2013/04/dianne-pilkington-to-join-mamma-mia-as-part-of-major-cast-change/ |title=Dianne Pilkington to join Mamma Mia! as part of major cast change |work=The Stage |date=30 April 2013 |accessdate=17 June 2013}} After playing Donna for three years, Pilkington departed the show on 11 June 2016 and was replaced by Linzi Hateley.{{cite web|author=Cole, Emily |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/mammia-mia-new-cast-west-end-exntension-novello_40238.html |title=Mamma Mia welcomes new cast and announces West End extension |publisher=Whats on Stage |date=20 April 2016 |accessdate=16 March 2017}} The following year, she played Aunt Lily in the musical Whisper House at The Other Palace.{{cite web|author=Bowie-Sell, Daisy |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/cast-whisper-house-other-palace_43053.html |title=Cast announced for Whisper House |publisher=Whats on Stage |date=6 March 2017 |accessdate=31 May 2017}} Pilkington portrayed Elizabeth Benning in the London production of Young Frankenstein, which premiered at Theatre Royal, Newcastle in August 2017 and then transferred the following month to the Garrick Theatre.{{cite web|author=Cole, Emily |url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/188344/hadley-fraser-summer-strallen-more-to-star-in-londons-young-frankenstein/ |title=Hadley Fraser, Summer Strallen & More to Star in London's Young Frankenstein |publisher=Broadway.com |date=21 April 2017 |accessdate=22 April 2017}}

Pilkington created the role of ‘Raquel’in the musical of Only Fools And Horses, written by Jim Sullivan and Paul Whitehouse. She performed the role from February 2019 to February 2020 at the Haymarket Theatre, London. In June 2021, it was announced that Pilkington would be creating the role of Eglantine Price in the new Bedknobs and Broomsticks adaptation, a collaboration between Disney and Michael Harrison, directed by Candace Edmunds and Jamie Harrison, written by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill. The tour completed in May 2022.{{Cite web|author=BWW News Desk|title=Dianne Pilkington to Lead BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS World Premiere; Initial Casting Announced|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Dianne-Pilkington-to-Lead-BEDKNOBS-AND-BROOMSTICKS-World-Premiere-Initial-Casting-Announced-20210603|access-date=2023-04-19|website=BroadwayWorld.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-10|title=Bedknobs & Broomsticks Musical UK Tour - Bedknobs & Broomsticks Tickets 2021|url=https://britishtheatre.com/bedknobs-and-broomsticks-musical-uk-tour/|access-date=2023-04-19|website=British Theatre|language=en-GB}} In October 2022, the musical adaptation of Saving Grace was announced for a limited twelve performances at Riverside Studios from 22 November until 4 December 2022 as an "intimate first run"{{cite web | url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/saving-grace-musical-kt-tunstall_57516.html/ | title="Saving Grace" musical, penned by KT Tunstall and April de Angelis, to premiere in London | date=4 October 2022 }}'in which Diane played the role of Grace. Pilkington played the Wicked Witch of the West in the 2023 West End revival of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, which finished its run on 3 September 2023.{{cite web|author=Wild, Stephi |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Dianne-Pilkington-Louis-GauntandChristina-Bianco-Join-THE-WIZARD-OF-OZ-at-the-London-Palladium-20230419 |title=Dianne Pilkington, Louis Gaunt and Christina Bianco Join THE WIZARD OF OZ at the London Palladium |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |date=19 April 2023 |accessdate=19 April 2023}}

In October 2024 Pilkington played the role of Mariella in The Red Shoes, marking her debut with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-Upon-Avon.

In March 2025 Pilkington played Dr Westfeld/Renfield in Dracula- A Comedy of Terrors, at the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Pilkington has undertaken many musical workshops including: ‘Hope’ in the London workshop production of Urinetown, directed by John Rando; ‘Tonya’ in the workshop of Dr Zhivago directed by Des McAnuff; the title role in Helen of Troy – a new musical, directed by Gary Griffin; ‘Charlotte’ in Charlotte — Life or Theatre?; 'Meg' in the workshop of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical Love Never Dies. Pilkington took part in the workshop of a new musical based on Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Pilkington was due to play the role of a Blind Opera Singer in 2010's The Wolfman, opposite Benicio del Toro, but her scene had been cut from the final version of the film. However, the scene was included in the Director's Cut DVD version.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780653/alternateversions Alternate versions for The Wolfman]

In July 2012 it was announced that Pilkington would appear in the new Les Misérables movie, directed by Tom Hooper. Pilkington was credited as Inn Whore 1[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707386/fullcredits Full cast and crew for Les Misérables (2012)]. IMDb. appearing in the Master of the House scene opposite Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. Her former Wicked co-star Kerry Ellis appears in the same scene.

Pilkington's television credits include appearing on the West End edition of The Weakest Link, which aired 31 December 2008. Pilkington came in a respectable 4th place.[http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8831229362377&title=West+End+Musical+Stars+Line+Up+for+Weakest+Link West End Musical Stars Line Up for Weakest Link] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616052001/http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8831229362377&title=West+End+Musical+Stars+Line+Up+for+Weakest+Link |date=16 June 2011 }}. She also appeared on Britain's Got Talent giving a brief tour of Wicked, on This Morning performing Popular with Alexia Khadime and on The Alan Titchmarsh Show discussing reality TV shows such as Over The Rainbow.

During the pandemic of 2020-21, Pilkington filmed ‘Innocent’ for ITV, playing Alison Walker, and had a guest role in Holby City, playing Shelley Wilder.

In 2024 Dianne played a the recurring character Jenny, a paediatric nurse, in 9 episodes of Emmerdale.

Pilkington was nominated in the "Best Takeover Role" category for her role in Wicked at the 2008 Theatregoer's Choice Awards, but lost to co-star Kerry Ellis.{{cite web |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8821203624757&title=Full+List%3A+Your+Theatregoers%92+Choice+Award+Winners |title=Theatregoers' Choice Award Winners |publisher=Whatsonstage.com |date=22 February 2008 |accessdate=11 March 2013 }} She and Alexia Khadime won the "Art and Culture Woman of the Future" category at the 2009 Women of the Future Awards.{{cite web|url=http://westend.broadwayworld.com/article/WICKED_Stars_Khadime_and_Pilkington_Named_Women_Of_The_Future_20091113 |title=WICKED Stars Khadime and Pilkington Named Women of the Future |publisher=Westend.broadwayworld.com |accessdate=11 March 2013}} Pilkington also won the Broadwayworld.com UK Award for Best Lead Actress in a Play for The 39 Steps.{{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/LOVE_NEVER_DIES_The_Big_Winner_In_First_BWWUK_Awards_20101122 |title=LOVE NEVER DIES The Big Winner in First BWW:UK Awards! |publisher=Broadwayworld.com |date=22 November 2010 |accessdate=11 March 2013}}

Pilkington's début solo album, entitled Little Stories, was released in December 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/8606-Product-CD-Dianne%20Pilkington-Little%20Stories-37205 |title=Little Stories |publisher=Dresscircle.co.uk |date=20 December 2010 |accessdate=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314025846/http://www.dresscircle.co.uk/8606-Product-CD-Dianne%20Pilkington-Little%20Stories-37205 |archivedate=14 March 2012 }}

{{Track listing

| headline = Little Stories: Track listing

| extra_column =

| title1 = Meadowlark

| note1 = From The Baker's Wife

| music1 = Stephen Schwartz

| length1 = 5:32

| title2 = Someone Else's Story

| note2 = from the musical Chess

| music2 = Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, Björn Ulvaeus

| length2 = 3:36

| title3 = Burn (*)

| note3 =

| music3 = Christopher Hamilton, Tennessee Williams

| length3 = 3:43

| title4 = Remember (*)

| note4 =

| music4 = Christopher Hamilton

| length4 = 3:26

| title5 = As Good As New (*)

| note5 = Melody Towers

| music5 = Christopher Hamilton, Susannah Pearse

| length5 = 2:31

| title6 = Somebody's Wife (*)

| note6 = from Over The Threshold

| music6 = Christopher Hamilton

| length6 = 3:18

| title7 = The Man That Got Away

| note7 = From A Star Is Born

| music7 = Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin

| length7 = 5:29

| title8 = It's Never Easy / I've Been Here Before

| note8 = From Closer Than Ever Feat. Nicole Faraday

| music8 = Richard Maltby, Jr., David Shire

| length8 = 5:39

| title9 = Memory

| note9 = From Cats

| music9 = Andrew Lloyd Webber

| length9 = 4:30

| title10 = Quando M'en Vo

| note10 = From La Bohème

| music10 = Giacomo Puccini

| length10 = 2:31

| title11 = Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

| note11 = Feat. Mark Goldthorp

| music11 = Cole Porter

| length11 = 4:18

}}

(*) Previously Unrecorded

All songs performed by Dianne Pilkington and Accompanied on the Piano by Chris Hamilton.

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Category:1975 births

Category:Alumni of the Guildford School of Acting

Category:Living people

Category:English musical theatre actresses

Category:English women singers

Category:Actresses from Wigan

Category:Musicians from Wigan