Diane Carol Richards (born 6 November 1969), known professionally as Diane Parish, is a British actress, who has been portraying the character Denise Fox on the BBC One soap opera EastEnders since 2006.
A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Parish has acted on British television for over two decades. She has appeared in a number of TV shows over the years, including the ITV dramas The Bill and M.I.T.: Murder Investigation Team playing Detective Eva Sharpe. She is also known for appearing in two series of the BBC One comedy drama Lovejoy (1993–1994).
Early life Parish was born on 6 November 1969 in Tottenham, London and attended Kingsmead School in Enfield, where she wrote and performed in school drama productions before graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Career After graduating from London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she worked mainly in theatre, including playing Cordelia in Talawa Theatre Company's 1994 production of King Lear.
Parish has appeared in various television roles. In Lovejoy, she played Beth Taylor, the replacement for the character Eric Catchpole. Another television role was in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Lola Christie, the girlfriend of Mick McFarlane (Sylvester Williams) and manager of the night café, 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 2001, becoming 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. She departed from the soap opera temporarily in January 2008 in order to give birth to her daughter, returning in June that year. Parish appeared as Millie in the 1996 film Indian Summer (also released under the title Alive And Kicking). In September 2025, Parish was announced to appear in the seventh series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK as a special celebrity guest during a makeover challenge (episode "The Hun Makeover").
Personal life Parish is of Dominican and Montserratian descent. She has two daughters with her former partner, Sebastian Hagemeister.
Filmography
Year Film Role Notes1993Frank Stubbs PromotesReceptionistEpisode: "Starlet"Screen OneBlackpool WaitressEpisode: "Wide-Eyed and Legless"1993–1994LovejoyBeth TaylorMain role1996MilkieTelevision filmIndian SummerMillieFilm; also marketed as Alive and Kicking1997CasualtyDonnaEpisode: "Déjà Vu"Holding OnJanetMain role1998Picking Up the PiecesLisa GeeMain roleDriving Miss Daisy CrazyDaisyShort filmEastEndersLola ChristieRegular role1999Real WomenRachelRecurring role2000The ViceShirley RobinsonMain role2000–2001Clocking OffSylvia RobinsonMain role2001Comedy LabJacksEpisode: "Turn the World Down"2001–2002BabyfatherLesley BaileyMain role2002–2004Eva SharpeMain role2005Holby CityLucy FauldsEpisode: "Live and Let Die"Murder Investigation TeamEva SharpeRecurring roleWaking the DeadSheryl PalliserEpisodes: "Black Run: Parts 1 & 2"2006–presentEastEndersDenise FoxRegular role2010East StreetCharity crossover between Coronation Street and EastEndersEastEnders: Farewell StaceyTelevision film20122 episodes: "The Deadline" and "Branching Out"2014EastEnders: The Ghosts of Ian BealeCharity special 2020The Queen Vic Quiz NightCharity crossover between Coronation Street and EastEndersEastEnders: Secrets from the Square HerselfEpisode: "Denise and Kim"2023EastEnders: The Six2 episodes2025EastEnders Investigates: The ManosphereDocumentaryRuPaul's Drag Race UKSpecial guest; Series 7
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2002 Royal Television Society Programme Awards Actor: Female Babyfather 8th National Television Awards Most Popular Newcomer The Bill 2007 The British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders 2010 15th National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance EastEnders Inside Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders 2011 16th National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance EastEnders 2013 2013 British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress EastEnders 2014 19th National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance EastEnders 2014 British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress EastEnders 2016 2016 British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress EastEnders 2017 22nd National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance EastEnders 2017 British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders 2017 British Soap Awards Best Female Dramatic Performance EastEnders Inside Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Soap Actress EastEnders 2018 23rd National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance EastEnders 2018 British Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders 2020 I Talk Telly Awards Best Soap Performance EastEnders 2021 Best Soap Partnership (with Tameka Empson) EastEnders 2023 2023 British Soap Awards Best Leading Performer EastEnders 28th National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance EastEnders Inside Soap Awards Best Actress EastEnders 2024 29th National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance EastEnders
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