Dianne Lesley Pilkington (born 7 June 1975) is an English theatre actress and singer.
Personal life
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.
The couple later divorced, and Pilkington married actor Neil Roberts in September 2020.
Theatre
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. 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. She ended her nine-month run on 29 January 2011 and was succeeded by Laura Rogers.
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.
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.
She starred as Sophie De Palma in the West End production of Master Class, which ran at the Vaudeville Theatre from January – April 2012.