Diane D'Aquila

Last updated
Diane D'Aquila
Born (1952-10-23) October 23, 1952 (age 72)
OccupationActress
Spouse
(m. 19871992)

Diane D'Aquila (born October 23, 1952) [1] is an American-Canadian actress. She has appeared in both television and film roles, but is best known for her stage appearances at the Stratford Festival.

Contents

Early life

Born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, D'Aquila was raised in Minneapolis. [2] She spent much of her adult life and career in Canada and holds dual citizenship. [3]

Career

D'Aquila originated the role of Elizabeth I of England in Timothy Findley's play, Elizabeth Rex . She won both an ACTRA Award and a Gemini Award in 2005 for her performance in the play's television adaptation.

In 2009, she played Mary Mercer in Soulpepper's revival of David French's Of the Fields, Lately . [4] She appeared on television and films including such appearances in Alfred Hitchcock Presents , Street Legal , Used People , The Ray Bradbury Theater , Hangin' In , Jane's House , The Long Island Incident , 72 Hours: True Crime , Milk and Honey and Slings and Arrows .

She has done voice-overs in animation including Little Bear as Grandmother Bear, Franklin as Miss Lynx, Bob and Margaret , Bad Dog , Ultraforce , The Busy World of Richard Scarry , Medabots , Roboroach , Rescue Heroes , Rolie Polie Olie , Freaky Stories , Ned's Newt , Angela Anaconda , Monster Force , Flash Gordon , George Shrinks , Timothy Goes to School , Blaster's Universe , Flying Rhino Junior High , The Adventures of Sam & Max: Freelance Police , Pippi Longstocking , Dumb Bunnies , Highlander: The Animated Series , World of Quest , The Seventh Portal , Chilly Beach , Wilbur , The Berenstain Bears , Tales from the Cryptkeeper , The Neverending Story , Corduroy , Pandalian , Busytown Mysteries , Kaput and Zosky , Jane and the Dragon , The Avengers: United They Stand , Silver Surfer and Cyberchase .

In 2017, D'Aquila portrayed the title role in King Lear at Toronto's Shakespeare in High Park, one of relatively few women ever to have performed the traditionally male role. [5]

Personal life

D'Aquila was married to Canadian actor C. David Johnson from 1987 to 1992.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1981 The Last Chase Santana
1987 A Winter Tan Edith
1988 Milk and Honey David's Teacher
1990Thick as ThievesDoris
1991 Married to It Madeleine Rothenberg
1992 Used People Rose
1998 Striking Poses Valerie
2009Caesar and CleopatraFtatateeta
2010 Good Neighbours Miss Van Ilen
2011 Take This Waltz Harriet
2018 Never Saw It Coming Ellie Garfield

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1977 For the Record MariaEpisode: "Maria"
1978 Performance BrookeEpisode: "Brooke"
1983 Hangin' In FredaEpisode: "The Actress and the Bishops"
1987 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Ellen PowellEpisode: "World's Oldest Motive"
1987 Echoes in the Darkness Pat Schnure2 episodes
1988The Ann Jillian StoryDr. Francine CaldwellTelevision film
1988 The Ray Bradbury Theater ClarisseEpisode: "Skeleton"
1988 9B Stella WeversEpisode: "Relationships"
1989Sorry, Wrong NumberSally DutchTelevision film
1990 My Secret Identity Sarah WilsonEpisode: "Misfire"
1990 Street Legal Noreen MastersEpisode: "The Psychic"
1992Last WishMaryanneTelevision film
1992 Black Death Nurse Daniels
1992 Heritage Minutes Agnes Macphail Episode: "Agnes Macphail"
1993 E.N.G. Marcia StanfieldEpisode: "The Big Sleepover"
1993–97 The Busy World of Richard Scarry Voice36 episodes
1994 Jane's House MarionTelevision film
1994Mary Silliman's WarAbby Nash
1994The Forget-Me-Not MurdersAlexis
1995A Family DividedInez Frank
1995The Possession of Michael D.Charlotte
1995–2001 Little Bear Grandmother Bear (voice)17 episodes
1995 Ultraforce Ruth GreenEpisode: "Prime Time"
1996Beyond the CallAngelaTelevision film
1997 The Last Don Sophia Ballazzo2 episodes
1997 Freaky Stories NarratorEpisode: "Not the Waltons"
1998 The Long Island Incident Dr. Ellen LipskyTelevision film
1998 Franklin Miss LynxEpisode: "Franklin Takes a Trip/Franklin's Bicycle Helmet"
1999 Family of Cops 3 Orientation CopTelevision film
1999 Traders MichaelaEpisode: "Every Secret Thing"
2001 George Shrinks Edna Bellbottom (voice)Episode: "The More Things Change"
2002 Two Against Time Dr. WilmerTelevision film
2003–05 72 Hours: True Crime Narrator21 episodes
2004Elizabeth RexQueen ElizabethTelevision film
2005–06 Slings & Arrows Minister of Culture3 episodes
2007 Booky and the Secret Santa Mrs. EatonTelevision film
2014 Saving Hope IdaEpisode: "En Bloc"
2017 Alias Grace Mrs. Quenell3 episodes
2019 Diggstown Eleanor ThompsonEpisode: "Delroy Nelson"

References

  1. "Diane D'Aquila | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  2. Johnson, Lawrence B. (2012-01-09). "Role Playing: Diane D'Aquila's twice regal portrait as lover-monarch in 'Elizabeth Rex'". Chicago On the Aisle. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  3. Nestruck, J. Kelly (2011-09-19). "Veteran actor Diane D'Aquila sharpens her theatrical edge". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
  4. J. Kelly Nestruck, "Worthy of revival but too sentimental". The Globe and Mail , July 3, 2009.
  5. "Actress Diane D’Aquila on playing the role of King Lear as a woman". The Globe and Mail , July 5, 2017.