Louise M. "Dillie" Keane (born 23 May 1952) is an Olivier Award-nominated actress, singer and comedian. She is perhaps best known as one third of the comedy cabaret trio Fascinating Aïda since its 1983 inception, but she has also had a prominent solo career.

Biography

Keane was born to Frank Keane, a doctor from County Mayo, and the former Miriam Slattery (from Tralee, County Kerry). Dillie Keane was raised in Portsmouth as a Roman Catholic, and described her mother as something of a "dragon".

She currently lives in Oxfordshire with her partner. She travels for her work, and particularly enjoys working in Ireland, the homeland of her parents.

She drives a Ford Transit: "I'm colossally uninterested in cars... but vans are different. They're incredible fun to drive. You are practically always the bigger dog. People always back up in small country lanes to let you pass. And even lorry drivers are much nicer; they'll flash you to let you in."


Education
Despite singing in the choir and playing guitar on the "Folk Mass" album recorded by some of the girls from the Woldingham School (Sacred Heart) at Abbey Road in 1967, she was later expelled. Keane studied music at Trinity College, Dublin, but left the four-year course after three years. She went on to study acting for three years at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She was made an Honorary Doctor of Letters at the University of Portsmouth in recognition of her career and her continuing links with the city.