Diana Chesney


Diana Chesney was a British-American character actress whose career spanned British cinema, American television, and stage productions over five decades. She is best known for playing Sybil Finch on the CBS sitcom Fair Exchange, and for voicing Mrs. Judson in Disney’s The Great Mouse Detective.

Early life

Chesney was born in Mandalay, British Burma, where her father served as a British Army major. She moved to England during childhood and began acting after attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She joined a touring musical comedy troupe during World War II and performed for Allied troops in Egypt, Iraq, and Libya. After surviving a Luftwaffe bombing of a train she was riding, she refused to travel by train again.

Career

British stage and screen

Chesney began acting on the British stage in the 1940s, debuting in a touring production of Show Boat. Her British screen credits included over 40 television shows and films, including Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, In the Doghouse, Mark Saber, Gideon’s Way, and The King and I, where she appeared alongside Yul Brynner.

Move to the United States

In 1961, Chesney was cast in the CBS sitcom Fair Exchange, one of the first hour-long comedy series on U.S. television where she played Sybil Finch, the British mother in a family who swapped daughters with an American family. The show filmed in Los Angeles and aired for one season before being shortened and ultimately canceled. She once recounted that she was cast after an unexpected audition in London set up by actor Victor Maddern, her friend and co-star.
She also appearing twice Bewitched, first in 1965 as Aunt Hagatha and later 1971 ad Aunt Enchantra.
Chesney was often described as “supercharged with energy—witty, opinionated, talkative,” praising her insight into American and British cultural differences.

Later life

Chesney settled in Malibu before relocating to Topanga Canyon in the early 1970s. A noted automobile enthusiast, she brought her vintage 1932 Rolls-Royce from England and later bought a Cadillac for daily use.

Death

Diana Chesney died of cancer at age 87 on 7 May 2004, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, at the MPTF retirement home.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1948Love in WaitingGladys
1950Soho ConspiracyRosa
1956They Never LearnInspector
1957Son of a StrangerMrs. Peck
1957All at Sea Mrs. Figg
1957Rock You SinnersActress
1957It Could Be YouActress
1959Man AccusedActressUncredited
1959Top Floor GirlMiss Prentice
1960Saturday Night and Sunday MorningBarmaidUncredited
1960In the NickBarmaid
1960The ShakedownPurple Woman
1961Dangerous AfternoonWoman Customer at Chemist
1961Three on a SpreeDowagerUncredited
1962Strongroom (film)Charlady
1966Munster, Go Home!Mrs. Moresby
1967The King's PirateMolvina MacGregor
1974Airport 1975DianaUncredited
1976Swashbuckler (film)Landlady
1986The Great Mouse DetectiveMrs. Judson Animated film
1986Three's CompanyMaidSegment: "The Surgeon"
1988Doin' Time on Planet EarthTeacherUncredited
1991SwitchMrs. Weatherspoon
1993Robin Hood: Men in Tights''Villager

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1953Rheingold TheatreMaid1 episode
1955Quatermass IISecretary1 episode
1956The Secrets of the PrairiePaddy3 episodes
1957The Grove FamilyMrs. Crichton-Evans1 episode
1957–1961The ViseVarious8 episodes
1958ITV Television PlayhouseMrs. Stark1 episode
1958Dead TroubleMadame Juliette3 episodes
1959CharlesworthElla1 episode
1959No Hiding PlaceCustomer1 episode
1960Interpol CallingEmma1 episode, uncredited
1960Man from InterpolMullins1 episode
1962SignpostUgly Sister1 episode
1962–1963Fair ExchangeSybil Finch15 episodes
1963GlynisMiss Fuller1 episode
1964The RoguesMrs. Carey1 episode
1965The Baileys of BalboaLady Cowdry1 episode
1965–1966The Farmer’s DaughterVarious roles3 episodes
1966The MonkeesMrs. Weefers1 episode
1965–1971BewitchedAunt Hagatha / Aunt Enchantra2 episodes
1968–1971Hogan's HeroesMultiple roles incl. Berta Burkhalter4 episodes
1969Land of the GiantsNell1 episode
1970Nanny and the ProfessorDr. Lois Hire1 episode
1971Night GalleryMaidSegment: "The Diary", 1 episode
1972Anna and the KingLady Ramsey1 episode
1973McMillan & WifeFlo1 episode
1974Cannon Cleaning Woman1 episode
1975The Six Million Dollar ManJessica1 episode, uncredited
1976Ellery QueenEdna, the Maid1 episode
1978Rescue from Gilligan’s IslandMrs. FellowsTV movie
1981Buck Rogers in the 25th CenturyHag1 episode
1982Help Wanted: MaleHildaTV movie
1982Fantasy IslandThe Old Hag1 episode
1983–1984General HospitalWard Sister Corley3 episodes