Diane Langton
Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:09:31 AM Wikipedia source
Diane Shirley Maria Langton (31 May 1944 – 15 January 2025) was a British actress, singer and dancer whose career on stage and screen spanned six decades. After beginning her career in theatre, she went on to appear in television shows, portraying roles such as Kathy Roberts in The Rag Trade and June Snell in Only Fools and Horses, Ruby Rowan in Heartbeat and Bev Williams in EastEnders. Her most notable role, however, was her portrayal of Marlena "Nana" McQueen in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, which she played sporadically between 2007 to 2009 and from 2012 until her death.
Infobox
Born
Diane Shirley Maria Langton(1944-05-31)31 May 1944Cranmore, Somerset, England
Died
15 January 2025(2025-01-15) (aged 80)Hampshire, England
Occupations
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Years active
1959–2024
Notable work
mw- The Rag Trade Only Fools and Horses Heartbeat EastEnders Hollyoaks
Spouse(s)
mw- Alan Cooper (m. 1963, divorced) Derek James (m. 1976)
Children
1
Tables
· Filmography › Television and film
1974
1975
1975, 1977–1978
Role(s)
The Rag Trade
Notes
Kathy
1981
The End of the End of the Pier Show
Role(s)
Mrs. Channing
Notes
Television film
1982
1985–1986
Role(s)
Only Fools and Horses
Notes
June Snell
1989
1990
1995
1995–1997
Role(s)
Heartbeat
Notes
Ruby Rowan
1995–1996
Role(s)
How to Be a Little Sod
Notes
Grandmother
1998–1999
Role(s)
EastEnders
Notes
Bev Williams
2001
2003, 2008
Role(s)
Doctors
Notes
Josie Rogers / Cynthia Albury
2004
2007–2009, 2012–2024
Role(s)
Hollyoaks
Notes
Marlena "Nana" McQueen
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1959 | Carry On Teacher | Schoolgirl | Film; uncredited |
| 1974 | Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! | Angie | Film |
| 1974 | Percy's Progress | Maureen Sugden | Film |
| 1975 | Carry On Laughing | Tzana; Griselda; Isolde | 3 episodes |
| 1975 | Eskimo Nell | Gladys Armitage | Film |
| 1975 | Confessions of a Pop Performer | Ruby Climax | Film |
| 1975, 1977–1978 | The Rag Trade | Kathy | Main role |
| 1976 | Trial by Combat | Ruby | Film |
| 1976 | Carry On England | Private Alice Easy | Film |
| 1979 | She Loves Me | Ilona Ritter | Television film |
| 1981 | The End of the End of the Pier Show | Mrs. Channing | Television film |
| 1982 | Minder | Rita | Episode: "In" |
| 1985–1986 | Only Fools and Horses | June Snell | Episodes: "Happy Returns" and "A Royal Flush" |
| 1987 | Alas Smith and Jones | Mum | Episode: "The Homemade Xmas Video" |
| 1989 | Streets Apart | Rene | 4 episodes |
| 1989 | The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover | May Fitch | Film |
| 1990 | Bergerac | Dawn Gray | Episode: "All the Sad Songs" |
| 1990–1991 | The Les Dennis Laughter Show | Unknown | 3 episodes |
| 1990 | Boon | Sylvia Clayborough | Episode: "Rival Eyes" |
| 1991 | Tonight at 8.30 | Beryl Waters | Episode: "Still Life" |
| 1993 | The Bill | Marion Draper | Episode: "Having What It Takes" |
| 1995 | Joking Apart | Prostitute | Episode |
| 1995–1997 | Heartbeat | Ruby Rowan | 6 episodes |
| 1995–1996 | How to Be a Little Sod | Grandmother | 7 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | EastEnders | Bev Williams | Recurring role |
| 2000 | Lexx | Hammer | Episode: "Girltown" |
| 2001 | Holby City | Nina Cocozza | Episode: "New Beginnings" |
| 2003, 2008 | Doctors | Josie Rogers / Cynthia Albury | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | The Final Quest | Marian Snr | Television film |
| 2007–2009, 2012–2024 | Hollyoaks | Marlena "Nana" McQueen | Regular role |
| 2009 | Ashes to Ashes | Julia | Episode |
| 2020 | Hollyoaks Later | Marlena "Nana" McQueen | 2020 special |
| Sources: | |||
· Filmography › Stage
1973
1975–1976
Role(s)
A Little Night Music
Notes
Petra
1976
T.Zee
Role(s)
Princess La
Notes
Royal Court Theatre
1980
1981–1983
Role(s)
Windy City
Notes
Heather Jones
1984–1987
Role(s)
Stepping Out
Notes
Sylvia
1988
Sunday with Sondheim
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Shaftesbury Theatre
1992–1993
Role(s)
The Comedy of Errors
Notes
Courtesan
1994
Johnny On a Spot
Role(s)
Pearl LaMonte
Notes
Royal National Theatre
2004
The Rink
Role(s)
Anna
Notes
Belgrade Theatre
2010–2011
Role(s)
Billy Elliot
Notes
Grandma
Sources:
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
| 1968–1973 | Hair | — | Shaftesbury Theatre |
| 1972 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Ensemble | — |
| 1973–1974 | Pippin | Fastrada | His Majesty's Theatre, London |
| 1973 | Two Gentlemen of Verona | Ensemble | — |
| 1975–1976 | A Little Night Music | Petra | Adelphi Theatre |
| 1976 | A Chorus Line | Diana | Theatre Royal, Drury Lane |
| 1976 | T.Zee | Princess La | Royal Court Theatre |
| 1978 | She Loves Me | Ilona Ritter | — |
| 1979–1980 | Songbook | Performer | Gielgud Theatre |
| 1980 | I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road | Heather Jones | Apollo Theatre |
| 1981–1983 | Windy City | Heather Jones | Bristol HippodromeVictoria Palace Theatre |
| 1984–1987 | Stepping Out | Sylvia | — |
| 1986 | Side by Side by Sondheim | Performer | — |
| 1988 | The Rink | Angel | Cambridge Theatre |
| 1988 | Sunday with Sondheim | Herself | Shaftesbury Theatre |
| 1992–1993 | The Comedy of Errors | Courtesan | Various |
| 1994 | Johnny On a Spot | Pearl LaMonte | Royal National Theatre |
| 1994 | Sweet Bird of Youth | Miss Lucy | Royal National Theatre |
| 1996 | Cats | Grizabella | Various |
| 1997 | Steaming | Violet | Piccadilly Theatre |
| 1998 | Chicago | Matron "Mama" Morton | — |
| 2002 | Follies | Carlotta Campion | Royal Festival Hall |
| 2004 | The Rink | Anna | Belgrade Theatre |
| 2010–2011 | Billy Elliot | Grandma | — |
| Sources: | |||
References
- Though it was originally reported that she was 77 at the time of her death, her obituary on the Guardian confirms that s
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jan/22/diane-langton-obituary
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jan/22/diane-langton-obituary
- Broadway.comhttps://archive.today/20120722035802/http://www.broadway.com/buzz/155999/billy-elliots-diane-langton-recalls-a-lifetime-on-the-london-stage/
- "Carry On England (1976)"https://web.archive.org/web/20180111222154/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bc852e8
- Billy Elliot the Musicalhttps://web.archive.org/web/20110414070732/http://www.billyelliotthemusical.com/explore/cast/diane_langton.php
- The Stagehttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19790913/082/0010
- Royal Variety Charityhttps://www.royalvarietycharity.org/royal-variety-performance/archive/detail/1982-london-theatre-royal
- Bright Thoughtshttps://www.bright-thoughts.co.uk/monologues-02.html
- Radio Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20160509110030/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/cc2c/only-fools-and-horses--s4-e1-happy-returns/
- BUFVChttp://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/lbc/index.php/segment/0002200274019
- Coventry Telegraphhttp://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/actress-reunited-cousin-3160540
- Aveleymanhttps://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=19350
- "Diane Langton"https://web.archive.org/web/20171229211826/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba17aab8a
- TV Guidehttps://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/diane-langton/credits/3000002917/
- What's on TVhttps://www.whatsontv.co.uk/hollyoaks-home/hollyoaks-news/hollyoaks-diane-langton-on-playing-nana-the-storylines-are-fabulous-and-so-are-her-145023/
- Channel4.comhttps://www.channel4.com/press/news/hollyoaks-interview-diane-langton-who-plays-nana
- Playbillhttp://www.playbill.com/article/londons-billy-elliot-welcomes-new-billy-and-diane-langton-com-172263
- Bordon Heraldhttps://www.bordonherald.com/news/tributes-to-star-who-brought-hollyoaks-glamour-to-east-hampshire-758184
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DE2yviItno-/
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/p/DE2vcIvtzgp/
- LBChttps://www.lbc.co.uk/news/only-fools-and-horses-star-soap-legend-diane-langton-dies-77/
- Digital Spyhttps://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/hollyoaks/a63433194/hollyoaks-diane-langton-dies-nana-mcqueen/
- Plex Inc.https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/diane-langton
- Theatricalia.comhttps://theatricalia.com/person/776/diane-langton
- What's on Stagehttps://www.whatsonstage.com/news/tv-and-musical-star-diane-langton-has-died-aged-77_1660758/#:~:text=Diane%20Langton%20has%20died%20aged%2077.,%2C%20Chicago%2C%20and%20Mary%20Poppins.