Deena Payne

Diane Margaret "Deena" Payne (born 29 August 1954) is an English actress and former singer who is best known for playing Viv Hope in ITV's Emmerdale.

Deena Payne
Born
Diane Margaret Payne

(1954-08-29) 29 August 1954
Orpington, Kent, England

Payne was born in Orpington, Kent. She used to tour with ex-Animals keyboard player Alan Price as a backing singer and she was a member of the novelty girl band Cats U.K., who scored a UK top 30 hit with "Luton Airport" in October 1979. She was also one of the dancers in Rock Follies of '77. Prior to Emmerdale, Payne had acted in episodes of Tales of Sherwood Forest and The Bill. She has also appeared in Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.[1]

Her Emmerdale character was written out of the series in 2011 after 18 years, dying in her sleep during a fire, as the bosses felt the character had run its course. Payne stated that she was angry at how she was written out off screen after so long in the show.

Since leaving Emmerdale, Deena has returned to the stage, appearing in Calendar Girls and various pantomimes. Most recently, she featured on the television show True Crime as the character Irene.

Payne is married to musician Steve Grant who toured with The Sweet.

References
  1. "ITV Series 1, Episode 3". Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 21 January 2001. ITV. Repeated 23 August 2016 on Challenge TV.



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