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had reportedly been keen for
Lawrence to remain on the cast, as they were hoping for an on-screen reunion of the Butcher family; Mike Reid had agreed to reprise his role as Frank, though Diane departed before his reintroduction.
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Lawrence agreed to reprise the role of Diane once again in 2008 to film the screen funeral of Diane's father Frank, following the off-screen death of Mike Reid. She agreed to return for another brief stint in 2012.
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as a regular cast member from 1988 to 1991, making subsequent guest appearances in 1993, 1994, 1997, 2008 and 2012. In 1991, Lawrence achieved a top 30 hit in the UK single's chart with her cover of
176:) and they'd all gone. One of the young actors, who will remain nameless, made me a coffee and started telling me all about what it was like. He had no idea I'd been in the soap before." Bosses at
149:. She remained in the role until 1991 Lawrence commented, "I left because I wanted to play something different. In doing that, you have to grow out of the public's perception of you as an
289:, in which her task was to answer a ringing telephone after first escaping from a chair to which she had been tied. She played Miss Thing in the children's TV show
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Lawrence returned for several stints in 1993, 1994 and 1997. Lawrence left weeks after making her comeback in 1997 and she had since commented: "Going back to
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character. But I wanted variety of roles. I felt I couldn't just carry on being Diane indefinitely. I wanted to be an actor, not just a personality."
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After graduating from drama school in 1988 at the age of 15, Lawrence was instantly cast as Diane
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album. However, the single was withdrawn before its release. Her pop career stalled and she returned to acting.
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and during this time she secured her first acting role when she made on/off appearances in BBC's
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in 2001 and played the leading female, Debs, on two major tours. She also starred in the sequel
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was like going back to school and none of your friends are there. I was there with people like
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she was forced to give it up and she turned to acting instead. She trained at the
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Lawrence's other notable television credits include the German TV adaptation of
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Lawrence initially trained to be a dancer, but after tearing a muscle in her
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603:(19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 314.
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In theatre, Lawrence has played Janet in the West End's adaptation of
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79:, London) is an English actress and singer. She played the role of
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in
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and in 2007 opposite David Essex again as Peter Pan at the
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In
December 2006, Lawrence starred as Peter Pan (opposite
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283:(1995). She also appeared in an episode of the game show
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company-director-check.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
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297:. As well as acting, she also tried her hand at
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668:"Boogie Nights 2 Review"
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249:(1985), the TV movie
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633:. 14 November 2004.
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350:David Essex
246:Die Wächter
166:Simon Wicks
145:soap opera
120:Grange Hill
87:soap opera
725:Categories
383:References
304:Going Live
299:presenting
239:Other work
195:EastEnders
178:EastEnders
162:Nick Berry
158:EastEnders
151:EastEnders
147:EastEnders
141:), in the
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367:) at the
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653:BBC News
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449:4 April
337:musical
266:Cadfael
189:Singing
83:in the
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257:Twiggy
168:) and
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77:Ilford
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199:chart
111:groin
711:IMDb
605:ISBN
557:2021
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