---
name: "Diana Quick"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/diana-quick"
fi1m_id: "diana-quick"
imdb_id: "nm0703438"
tmdb_id: 163422
wikidata_id: "Q1150442"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "23 November 1946"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 66
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-07T11:26:54.362534+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Diana Quick

## Identity

Diana Quick

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/diana-quick
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** diana-quick
- **IMDb ID:** nm0703438
- **TMDB ID:** 163422
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1150442
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Quick, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1150442, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703438/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/163422

Actor. Born 23 November 1946 in London, England.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 23 November 1946, London, England
- **Active:** 1971–present
- **Also known as:** Diana Marilyn Quick, Diane Quick
- **Average Fi1m score:** 66, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 58 (1), 1980s 83 (1), 2000s 60 (1), 2010s 83 (1), 2020s 48 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 62 to 58 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 2 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 3, History 2, Crime 1, Fantasy 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $97m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_Quick, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1150442, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703438/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/163422

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*Brideshead Revisited*](https://film.one/tv/brideshead-revisited.md) (83)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Saving Grace*](https://film.one/film/saving-grace.md) (60)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Diana Quick

> Diana Quick brings a useful impatience to the careful manners of *Brideshead Revisited*. We admire the firmness of her Lady Julia Flyte, and would resist making that aristocratic role the measure of everything she can do.

In *Brideshead Revisited* (1981), Quick makes Julia's impatience register against the restraint around her. Lady Julia Flyte could easily have been another elegant presence in an adaptation full of them, but Quick gives her a will of her own. We were relieved when that impatience broke through, because the production's careful reserve can become exhausting. It is a firm performance that holds our attention without needing the drama to become louder or faster.

That role can make the career look more exclusively aristocratic than it is. Before Julia, Quick played Laura in Ridley Scott's *The Duellists* (1977) and Mona Grant in *The Big Sleep* (1978). She subsequently sought to avoid typecasting, continuing across classical theatre, supporting film parts and television. Her later screen work includes Polina Molotova in *The Death of Stalin* (2017), an ensemble credit worth remembering when Julia threatens to become the only part anyone mentions.

The directors of *Brideshead Revisited*, Michael Lindsay-Hogg and Charles Sturridge, give the actors time to make small changes count. Across this eleven-part adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel, embarrassment and self-command are allowed to occupy a scene without being underlined. John Gielgud's Edward ‘Ned’ Ryder makes discourtesy funny, while Nickolas Grace's Anthony Blanche provides a change from the prevailing restraint. Quick earns her place among them through the firmness that keeps Julia from becoming merely decorative.

The cost is a stately pace that sometimes becomes a trial, and no performance can quite remove that difficulty. We recommend the programme for its acting and its attention to small cruelties, with that reservation plainly attached. Quick's wish to avoid aristocratic typecasting makes sense when even this defining role gives us more to notice than composure and manners. Start with Julia, but do not make an aristocratic title a requirement for watching her again.

## Biography

Diana Quick is an English actress. Born in London in 1946, she grew up in Kent and studied at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, where she became the first female president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society. She made her professional stage debut in 1959 and has worked extensively in theatre with companies including the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.

Quick is best known for portraying Lady Julia Flyte in the 1981 Granada Television adaptation of *Brideshead Revisited*, for which she received BAFTA and Emmy nominations. Her film credits include *The Duellists* (1977) and *The Death of Stalin* (2017). She has appeared in numerous television series such as *Agatha Christie's Poirot*, *Midsomer Murders*, *Inspector Morse* and *Father Brown*.

Quick has also written a family memoir, *A Tug on the Thread*, published in 2009. Her daughter, Mary Nighy, is an actress.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *Practical Magic 2* (2026), Fi1m 48, as Margaret — [page](https://film.one/film/practical-magic-2.md)
- *The Death of Stalin* (2017), Fi1m 83, as Polina Molotova — [page](https://film.one/film/the-death-of-stalin.md)
- *Saving Grace* (2000), Fi1m 60, as Honey — [page](https://film.one/film/saving-grace.md)
- *Brideshead Revisited* (1981), Fi1m 83, as Lady Julia Flyte — [page](https://film.one/tv/brideshead-revisited.md)
- *Nicholas and Alexandra* (1971), Fi1m 58, as Sonya — [page](https://film.one/film/nicholas-and-alexandra.md)

## Complete filmography (75)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Practical Magic 2* (2026), as Margaret — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/practical-magic-2.md)
- *Amaretti* (2026), as Lenny
- *Brighton Storeys* (2025), Actor
- *Forever Young* (2024), as Robyn Smith
- *The Famous Five* (2023), series, as Mrs Wentworth
- *The Curse of Kirrin Island* (2023), as Mrs. Wentworth
- *Alice, Darling* (2022), Thanks
- *Tikkun Olam* (2022), Actor
- *The Death of Stalin* (2017), as Polina Molotova — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-death-of-stalin.md)
- *The Living and the Dead* (2016), series, as Sylvia
- *Houdini & Doyle* (2016), series, as Cecilia Weiss
- *Side by Side* (2013), as Joan Dunbar
- *Compassion* (2013), as Lady
- *Father Brown* (2013), series, as Lady Cecily
- *Mother's Milk* (2011), as Kettle
- *Case Histories* (2011), series, as Miriam Baker
- *Silk* (2011), series, as Justice Elizabeth Frank — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/silk.md)
- *Love/Loss* (2010), as Angela
- *The Queen* (2009), series, as The Queen
- *Law & Order: UK* (2009), series, Actor
- *The Protectors* (2009), series, as Claire Thornton
- *Trent 2 Rent* (2008), as Nanna
- *Catwalk Dogs* (2007), as Mrs Jessop, Guy's mother
- *Kingdom* (2007), series, as Janet Cramer
- *Lewis* (2007), series, as Gwen Raeburn
- *Sensitive Skin* (2005), series, as Cheryl
- *New Tricks* (2004), series, as Julia Eldridge
- *Doctor Who: Scream of the Shalka* (2003), series, as Prime (voice)
- *Doctor Who: The Scream of the Shalka* (2003), as Prime
- *Revengers Tragedy* (2002), as The Duchess
- *AKA* (2002), as Lady Gryffoyn
- *The Affair of the Necklace* (2001), as Madame Pomfré
- *The Discovery of Heaven* (2001), as Sophia Brons
- *Saving Grace* (2000), as Honey — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/saving-grace.md)
- *Vigo* (1998), as Emily
- *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Clare Bonavita, Hermione Lancaster — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md)
- *The Leading Man* (1996), as Susan
- *Rasputin* (1996), as Grand Duchess Ella
- *Dalziel and Pascoe* (1996), series, as ACC Stella Applegarth
- *Dandelion Dead* (1994), series, as Marion Glassford-Gale
- *Nostradamus* (1994), as Diane de Poitiers
- *Clarissa* (1991), series, as Lady Betty
- *The Orchid House* (1991), series, as Madam
- *The Price of the Bride* (1990), as Alice Daltrey
- *Wilt* (1989), as Sally
- *The Justice Game* (1989), series, as Kate Fielding
- *Agatha Christie's Poirot* (1989), series, as Mrs. Welman — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/agatha-christies-poirot.md)
- *Vroom* (1988), as Susan
- *Chekhov in Yalta* (1988), as Olga Knipper
- *Cariani and the Courtesans* (1987), as Tullia
- *Inspector Morse* (1987), series, as Hilary Stephens — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/inspector-morse.md)
- *Max My Love* (1986), as Camille
- *ScreenPlay* (1986), series, as Tullia
- *Nineteen Nineteen* (1985), as Anna
- *Ordeal by Innocence* (1984), as Gwenda Vaughan
- *The Phantom of the Opera* (1983), as Madame Bianchi
- *The Woman in White* (1982), series, as Marian Halcombe
- *Brideshead Revisited* (1981), series, as Lady Julia Flyte — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/brideshead-revisited.md)
- *The Odd Job* (1978), as Fiona Harris
- *The Big Sleep* (1978), as Mona Grant
- *The Three Hostages* (1977), as Mary Hannay
- *The Duellists* (1977), as Laura
- *Mr. Garrick and Mrs. Woffington* (1975), as Mrs. Woffington
- *Private Affairs* (1975), series, as Peg Woffington
- *A Private Enterprise* (1975), as Penny
- *Kolchak: The Night Stalker* (1974), series, as Ariel
- *Napoleon and Love* (1974), series, as Eléonore
- *Bedtime Stories* (1974), series, as Anna Carpenter
- *Centre Play* (1973), series, as Bo
- *The Protectors* (1972), series, as Anna De Santos
- *A Christmas Carol* (1971), as Ghost of Christmas Past (voice)
- *Nicholas and Alexandra* (1971), as Sonya — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/nicholas-and-alexandra.md)
- *Christ Recrucified* (1969), series, as Lenio
- *The Complete and Utter History of Britain* (1969), series, Actor
- *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Geraldine

## Gallery

- ![Diana Quick](https://film.one/media/person/60535/gallery-dce5f9593b4b.jpg) Diana Quick — Image via TMDB
- ![Diana Quick](https://film.one/media/person/60535/gallery-159286620bfe.jpg) Diana Quick — Image via TMDB
- ![Diana Quick](https://film.one/media/person/60535/gallery-2c10f2833678.jpg) Diana Quick — Image via TMDB
- ![Diana Quick](https://film.one/media/person/60535/gallery-e497a4374aab.jpg) Diana Quick — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/diana-quick