DEENA’S OWN SLIDING DOORS MOMENT

Actress decides to step out on stage to find time for some Madness

FOR 19 years, Deena Payne was one of Britain’s top soap actresses until Emmerdale producers revealed her character Viv Hope’s position was, well, hopeless.

Viv died in her sleep in a fire, denying Deena the chance to play out a big ending.

Kent-born Deena however was never about to give up on the business. Far from it.

When she became an actor she was going against the grain, beginning her professional life as a dancer.

“I’ve always fulfilled my passions,” says the 62 year-old, in energetic voice.

“I went to Arts Ed [drama college] in London, and emerged an ‘all rounder’. From dancing I went into musical theatre then choreography at Hornchurch Rep.

“It was there I got my first straight acting parts and was able to jump into television.”

She adds: “You know, there was a time when dancers couldn’t make that leap or get a TV part at all but then Madonna came along and everything changed.

“I was so pleased to make the transition. And I do like a challenge.”

At the moment, the challenge is in becoming part of the cast of Our House, the stage musical which features the songs of 80s pop group Madness.

The show isn’t simply a jukebox musical; it tells the story of teenager Joe, a Londoner and a likely lad who is faced with two choices in life – to stay on the straight and narrow or take a very different road.

The musical looks at both of Joe’s choices, revealing the sliding doors moment when he can go either way.

Deena plays Joe’s mum, Cath. “I’m the mummy who loves my son to bits but I’ve lost my husband, to jail and then he dies.

“Cath is a typical mum, but she doesn’t want her son to go the wrong way like her husband.

“And, yes, the story is a sliding doors moment. The mum has to make a very difficult position about her boy.”

The actress reveals she too has had her own sliding doors moment.

She explains how life could have been so different.

“At the beginning of my career I was a highly trained ballet dancer. I was always asked to play big parts.

“At the end of the course I was given a list of prestigious opera companies in Germany, who were looking to hire ballet dancers.

“But I didn’t fancy going around Germany on a train. Instead, I signed with a small English company and ended up touring Spain. It was all a bit old-fashioned, London Paladium like. You didn’t need the training I’d had to do this.

“And I’ve often wondered what would have happened had I gone to Germany.”

It seems likely Deena would still have gone on to become a major television actor, and star in musical theatre. The forward momentum, the desire to learn new skills, the ability to graft is in her DNA.

Along the way, for example, Deena sung backing vocals with former Animals star Alan Price.

“It was great. And I was able to do it in between acting jobs. I reckoned I’d enjoy that more than working as a waitress.”

In 1979, Deena was part of a girl band

“It was time of Lorraine Chase’s Campari ad and we made a song called Luton Airport.

“It got into the charts and the band made Top of The Pops. Sadly, we didn’t make any money out of it.”

There was another, bigger disappointment. At this time Deena had landed an acting role with Belgrave Theatre, and during a costume run the call came through to appear on Top of the Pops.

“The theatre director wouldn’t let me go off to do it. As I result I cried myself silly. I ended up not doing Top of the Pops, nor the show.”