Diane Parish – The first Black actor in the UK to win a major Royal Television Society Award

Parish: ““All black actors want to do is what everyone else does, be a part of telling stories truthfully and representing characters truthfully.” “.Source

Diane Parish is a British actress who was born to Caribbean parents. Her father is from Dominica and her mother is from Montserrat. She graduated from London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and worked mainly in theatre, using the received pronunciation she was taught at RADA to extend her repertoire of Shakespeare. She later received some minor television roles including Beth Taylor alongside Ian McShane in Lovejoy, and Lola Christie, girlfriend of Mick McFarlane, the manager of the EastEnders night cafe, in 1998.

Parish has also appeared in television dramas including The Bill and its spin-off M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team, playing DC Eva Sharpe. Before The Bill she starred in Babyfather, for which she received the Royal Television Society’s best actress award in 2001making her the first black actor to win a major RTS award.

Parish returned to EastEnders in May 2006 but this time playing regular character Denise Fox.

Parish: “I’m getting sick of seeing my black contemporaries getting one scene every 15 – there’s no need for it any more, and there’s no need to be afraid of speaking up about it”. Source

Filmography
EastEnders – Denise Fox (2006—)
M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team – DC Eva Sharpe (2005)
The Bill – DC Eva Sharpe (2002–04)
Babyfather – Lesley Bailey (2001–02)
Clocking Off – Sylvia Robinson (2000–02)
Real Women – Rachel (1998)
Picking up the Pieces – Lisa Gee (1998)
EastEnders – Lola Christie (1998)
Holding On – Janet (1997)
Indian Summer – Millie (1996)
The Final Passage – Milkie (1996)
Lovejoy – Beth Taylor (1993–94)