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Jane Cox
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Jane Cox (born 13 May 1952) is an English actress, known for her role as Lisa Dingle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, a role she portrayed from 1996 to 2019 and again briefly in 2020 and in 2024. In 2011, she was nominated for the British Soap Award for Best Actress for her portrayal.
Key Information
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Career
[edit]Cox has starred in episodes of Coronation Street, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates and The Bill. Her most notable pre-Emmerdale role was playing JJ in the children's entertainment series Allsorts from 1991 to 1995.[1] She has also appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.[2]
In March 2019, Cox announced that she would be leaving Emmerdale after 23 years of portraying Lisa Dingle. She made her final physical appearance on 24 May 2019, but made a voiceover appearance on 6 June 2019 in a farewell to her character.[3] However, Cox briefly reprised the role for several voice cameos over the course of October and November 2020.[4]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | My Father's House | Sister | Series 1: Episode 1 |
| The Spoils of War | Nurse | Episode: "Winter Wedding" | |
| 1986, 1988 | The Return of the Antelope | Ethel the Cook | 7 episodes |
| 1986 | The Monocled Mutineer | Unnamed | Episode: "A Dead Man on Leave" |
| 1987 | Bulman | Diana White | Episode: "Death by Misadventure" |
| 1988 | Testimony: The Story of Shostakovich | The Widow | Film |
| 1991 | Coronation Street | Mrs. Shaw | 3 episodes |
| 1991–1995 | Allsorts | JJ | Series regular |
| 1994 | Brookside | Counsellor | 1 episode |
| The Bill | Mrs. Cattini | Episode: "Licensed to Kill" | |
| 1995 | The Governor | Sarah Smith | Series 1: Episode 2 |
| The Ghostbusters of East Finchley | Brenda | 6 episodes | |
| 1996 | Hetty Wainthrop Investigates | Aileen | Episode: "A High Profile" |
| 1996–2020, 2024 | Emmerdale | Lisa Dingle | Series regular; 2,601 episodes |
| 1997 | Emmerdale: The Dingles Down Under | Direct-to-video; Emmerdale spin-off film | |
| 2001 | Lily Savage's Blankety Blank | Herself | Series 15: Episode 17 |
| 2010 | Emmerdale: The Dingles For Richer for Poorer | Lisa Dingle | Direct-to-video; Emmerdale spin-off film |
| 2011 | Mrs Peppercorn's Magical Reading Room | Mrs. Libby | Short film |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The British Soap Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | [5] |
| 2011 | The British Soap Awards | Best Actress | Shortlisted | [6] |
| 2011 | TV Choice Awards | Best Soap Actress | Nominated | [7] |
| 2011 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Actress | Nominated | [8] |
| 2019 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Exit | Won | [9] |
References
[edit]- ^ "What was Jane Cox in before Emmerdale?". Sheffield Forum. 21 March 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. 20 May 2001. ITV.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (8 March 2019). "Emmerdale star confirms exit for Lisa Dingle". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
- ^ Westbrook, Caroline (15 October 2020). "Is Jane Cox returning to Emmerdale to voice Lisa Dingle?". Metro. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- ^ "British Television Soap Awards". thecustard.tv. Archived from the original on 2 February 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
- ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (14 May 2011). "British Soap Awards 2011: The Winners". Digital Spy.
- ^ Wightman, Catriona (18 May 2011). "In Full: TV Choice Awards 2011 – Nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ Love, Ryan (11 July 2011). "In Full: Inside Soap Awards 2011 Nominees". Digital Spy. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ "Meet your Inside Soap Awards 2019 winners!". Inside Soap. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
External links
[edit]Jane Cox
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Early life
Jane Cox was born on 13 May 1952 in London, England.[5] Her family relocated to Devon during her early childhood, where she spent much of her formative years.[6] Details on Cox's family background remain limited in public records, with little documented about her mother or any siblings. Her father worked as a physiotherapist.[1] He fostered her early interest in the performing arts through his own passion for literature, regularly reading William Shakespeare's works aloud to her as a child.[6] This exposure to dramatic language and storytelling sparked Cox's enthusiasm for acting from a young age.[7] These childhood influences in Devon laid the groundwork for her later pursuit of formal acting training.[6]Education
Jane Cox, raised in Devon after her birth in London, pursued formal acting training at the Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama in Sidcup, Kent, during the early 1970s.[8][9] She completed a three-year diploma program in theatre studies, graduating as part of the Class of 1975.[9] The curriculum at Rose Bruford emphasized speech, drama techniques, and performance skills, including practical work placements and elements of teacher training to develop well-rounded theatre practitioners.[10] This structured education provided Cox with a strong foundation in the craft of acting, enabling her to transition effectively into professional theatre and later television roles.[6]Career
Early career
Jane Cox began her professional acting career in the early 1980s following her training at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama. Her television debut came in 1981 with a role in the BBC series My Father's House, marking her entry into British screen acting. Throughout the decade, she appeared in several television productions, including The Monocled Mutineer in 1986, where she portrayed a supporting character in the historical drama about the Étaples Mutiny, and Bulman in 1987, a crime series focused on undercover police work. These early roles were typically small but provided essential experience in the competitive landscape of 1980s British television, where opportunities for newcomers were limited by the dominance of established ensembles and limited broadcasting slots.[5] In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Cox continued to build her resume with guest appearances, including Testimony in 1988, a political drama, and recurring work as Ethel the Cook in The Return of the Antelope across 1986 and 1988. A notable guest spot came in 1991 as Mrs. Shaw in the long-running soap Coronation Street, where she played a cleaner involved in a brief storyline, showcasing her versatility in everyday character portrayals. That same year, she secured a more prominent regular role as JJ in the children's entertainment series Allsorts (later retitled Gigglish Allsorts), which ran from 1991 to 1995 on ITV. In this lunchtime program aimed at young audiences, Cox's energetic performance as the lead female character helped engage viewers through sketches and songs, representing one of her most sustained early commitments.[11] Cox's early career also featured additional guest roles, such as Mrs. Cattini in The Bill in 1994, a police procedural where she depicted a community member in a single episode, and appearances in The Governor and Ghostbusters of East Finchley in 1995. These sporadic television gigs were supplemented by stage work, including two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in London and tours in repertory theatre across the country, which honed her skills in diverse productions from classical to contemporary. However, building a stable career in British television during this era presented significant challenges; Cox has described the period as financially precarious, involving "scrambling for money" through odd jobs like care home auxiliary work and stitching juggling balls while relying on benefits, as steady acting income was elusive amid intense competition and economic constraints in the industry.[11]Emmerdale role
Jane Cox was cast as Lisa Dingle, originally known as Lisa Clegg (née Greaser), in the British soap opera Emmerdale in August 1996, initially intended for just four episodes before becoming a regular character.[12] Over the course of 23 years, she portrayed the resilient matriarch of the Dingle family, appearing in thousands of episodes and establishing the role as one of the show's most enduring fixtures.[13] Her prior work in the children's series Allsorts helped build her television presence leading into this breakthrough soap opportunity.[14] Cox's portrayal of Lisa encompassed a range of dramatic storylines that highlighted the character's strength and family loyalty. Introduced as a no-nonsense farmhand, Lisa married Zak Dingle, played by Steve Halliwell, in 1998, integrating her into the chaotic Dingle clan and navigating their turbulent yet devoted relationship amid frequent family conflicts and financial struggles.[15] Key arcs included the birth of their daughter Belle in 1998, which solidified the couple's bond, and Lisa's harrowing 2011 rape ordeal by work colleague Derek Benrose, a storyline praised for its sensitive handling and Cox's powerful performance in addressing survivor trauma.[16] Later, in 2019, Lisa was diagnosed with terminal amyloidosis, a rare condition causing heart failure, culminating in her poignant on-screen death during a second wedding to Zak.[17] On set, Cox formed a close professional bond with co-star Steve Halliwell, whose portrayal of Zak complemented her own, creating authentic chemistry that spanned decades of filming.[18] The long-term commitment to Emmerdale's demanding production schedule—often six days a week—allowed for deep immersion in the role but also tested her endurance, as she balanced intense shoots with personal pursuits like studying art history.[19] Cox announced her departure from the role in March 2019, with Lisa's exit airing in May, citing a desire to alter her schedule and explore new interests beyond the soap's rigors, including writing and further education.[20][12] This decision marked the end of a 23-year tenure that she requested conclude with the character's death to provide closure.[21] Lisa Dingle's arc under Cox's interpretation holds significant place in British soap opera history as a symbol of working-class fortitude and familial devotion, influencing portrayals of strong female leads in long-running series and earning recognition as one of the genre's iconic matriarchs.[22][15]Later career and returns
Following her departure from Emmerdale in 2019, Jane Cox made a brief return to the series in 2020 through voiceovers as Lisa Dingle, contributing to her on-screen daughter Belle's mental health storyline that aired in October and November.[23][24] In 2024, Cox reprised the role in a special capacity for a poignant storyline centered on Belle's wedding to Tom King, appearing as a voice from beyond the grave to offer emotional guidance amid her daughter's distress.[25][3] This return highlighted the enduring legacy of Lisa's maternal influence, drawing on Cox's established portrayal to provide closure in the narrative. Later that year, following the real-life death of her co-star Steve Halliwell in December 2023, Emmerdale incorporated Lisa into Zak Dingle's funeral storyline, where Belle scattered some of her mother's preserved ashes on Zak's coffin to symbolize their eternal reunion, though Cox did not film new material for this episode.[26] Beyond these Emmerdale appearances, Cox has not taken on significant new acting projects, with no television or theater roles reported between 2020 and 2025. Instead, she has pursued studies in reflexology, embarking on a career shift toward alternative medicine to explore interests sidelined by her long soap commitment.[27][28] In interviews, Cox has reflected on the challenges of her extended Emmerdale tenure, noting that the six-day workweek limited personal time and prompted her exit to "do things [she] didn't have time to do before," such as traveling and self-care.[20] She has emphasized enjoying this phase of "chilling," which she described as a rare luxury after decades in serial drama, while balancing it with her new educational pursuits.[4][29] Looking ahead, Cox has expressed openness to select acting opportunities, provided they avoid the intensity of ongoing soap work, though she has not announced retirement and continues to prioritize personal fulfillment over professional expansion as of late 2024.[30][31]Personal life
Family and relationships
Jane Cox maintains a high level of privacy regarding her personal relationships, with limited public information available about her family life. She is married and has a grown-up daughter, though details about her spouse and child remain undisclosed.[22] Cox's family background includes ties to her early years in London and subsequent upbringing in Devon, where her father's love for Shakespeare influenced her interest in drama. Her mother passed away a couple of years prior to her 2019 departure from Emmerdale, an event that prompted Cox to reflect on life's priorities and seek more time for personal matters.[22] In addition to her immediate family, Cox has formed deep, familial bonds with long-term co-stars, notably Steve Halliwell, who portrayed her on-screen husband Zak Dingle. The pair shared a close off-screen friendship, maintaining contact through handwritten letters after her exit from the soap until Halliwell's death in December 2023, a practice Halliwell described as meaningful and enduring.[32][33] This relationship underscores Cox's approach to treating trusted colleagues as extended family while steadfastly guarding her private life from broader public scrutiny.[34]Interests and privacy
Jane Cox has expressed a strong preference for maintaining a low public profile outside her professional life, emphasizing that she is an actor rather than a celebrity seeking media attention. In interviews following her departure from Emmerdale, she has stated her aversion to reality television formats, such as Strictly Come Dancing or I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, underscoring her desire to avoid the scrutiny that comes with such exposure. This deliberate choice reflects her broader approach to privacy, allowing her to focus on personal fulfillment without the pressures of ongoing fame.[24] Her exit from Emmerdale in 2019 was motivated by a wish to pursue non-acting interests and achieve a better work-life balance after 23 years of demanding six-day filming schedules. Cox has shared that the death of her mother a few years earlier prompted reflection on life's brevity, leading her to seek "more to life" beyond the soap's intensity. She began studying reflexology, an alternative therapy involving pressure on specific body points to promote healing, enrolling in a course shortly after leaving the show. This pursuit aligns with her interest in alternative medicine and personal well-being, as she described wanting to "slow down a bit" and explore new opportunities.[24][27] In addition to reflexology, Cox has engaged in other creative and intellectual hobbies, including studying for an art history degree over the past decade and attempting to write a book. These endeavors highlight her curiosity-driven approach to post-Emmerdale life, where she remains open to selective acting roles but prioritizes "chilling" and embracing unpredictability. As of 2024, she reflected that "life is such an exciting thing, you never know what is around the corner," encapsulating her balanced outlook on personal growth.[24][27]Filmography
Television
Jane Cox began her television career in the early 1980s with guest appearances in various British series. Her notable roles include a guest spot in the long-running police drama The Bill, where she played Mrs. Cattini in 1994.[5] In 1991, she appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as Mrs. Shaw in three episodes.[5] From 1991 to 1995, Cox had a regular role as JJ in the children's educational entertainment series Allsorts (later known as Gigglish Allsorts), aimed at pre-school audiences and featuring puppet characters and songs.[35] She guest-starred as Aileen in the 1996 episode "A High Profile" of the crime drama Hetty Wainthropp Investigates.[5] Cox's most prominent television role was as Lisa Dingle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, which she portrayed from 1996 to 2019, with brief returns in 2020 and a voice-over appearance in 2024; she appeared in 2,113 episodes during her main tenure.[5][36]| Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | My Father's House | Sister | 1 | Guest appearance; Series 1: Episode 1.[5] |
| 1981 | The Spoils of War | Nurse | 1 | Guest appearance; Episode: "Winter Wedding".[5] |
| 1986–1988 | The Return of the Antelope | Ethel the Cook | 7 | Recurring role.[5] |
| 1986 | The Monocled Mutineer | Unnamed | 1 | Guest appearance; Episode: "A Dead Man on Leave".[5] |
| 1987 | Bulman | Diana White | 1 | Guest appearance; Episode: "Death by Misadventure".[5] |
| 1991 | Coronation Street | Mrs. Shaw | 3 | Guest role in iconic soap opera.[5] |
| 1991–1995 | Allsorts | JJ | Unknown (regular) | Leading role in children's TV series.[35] |
| 1994 | Brookside | Counsellor | 1 | Guest appearance.[5] |
| 1994 | The Bill | Mrs. Cattini | 1 | Guest appearance in police procedural series.[5] |
| 1995 | The Governor | Sarah Smith | 1 | Guest appearance; Series 1: Episode 2.[5] |
| 1995 | The Ghostbusters of East Finchley | Brenda | 6 | Recurring role.[5] |
| 1996 | Hetty Wainthropp Investigates | Aileen | 1 | Guest in detective series episode "A High Profile".[5] |
| 1996–2019, 2020, 2024 | Emmerdale | Lisa Dingle | 2,113+ | Long-running series regular; matriarch of the Dingle family.[5][15] |
| 2001 | Lily Savage's Blankety Blank | Herself | 1 | Guest appearance; Series 15: Episode 17.[5] |