Deena Payne

Deena Payne is an English actress and former singer, born on August 29, 1954, in Orpington, Kent. She gained recognition for her portrayal of Viv Hope in the long-running ITV soap opera Emmerdale. Prior to her role in Emmerdale, Payne had acted in episodes of Tales of Sherwood Forest and The Bill. She was also a member of the novelty girl band Cats U.K., which had a UK top 30 hit with 'Luton Airport' in 1979. Payne's character in Emmerdale was written out of the series in 2011 after 18 years. Since then, she has returned to the stage, appearing in productions like Calendar Girls and various pantomimes. Payne has also made television appearances, including the show True Crime as the character Irene.