Inside Cunk on Life star Diane Morgan's life off-screen: From famous best friend to brutal reason why she doesn't want kids

Diane Morgan has a very private life away from the small screen but she has one very famous best friend.

Before finding fame, the Cunk on Life star, 48, worked as a telemarketer, dental nurse, and potato peeler after leaving drama school, having struggled to establish herself as an actor.

Bolton-born star Diane went on to explore the world of comedy, and eventually found success in hit shows, Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe, Cunk on Earth, and Motherland. 

Diane can be seen on screen next on Monday December 30 in Cunk On Life - a new special in which she plays ignorant documentary maker Philomena Cunk.

The actress first debuted her alter-ego in 2013 while on the newsy British comedy series Charlie Brooker’s Weekly Wipe.

However away from the cameras, Diane leads a very different life with few realising that she has a superstar best friend.

Now MailOnline take a look at Diane's lifestyle away from acting. 

Famous friendship

Diane is best friends with fellow actress Maxine Peake, whom she first became close with as a drama student. 

During a 2020 interview with The Guardian, Diane shared: 'We've known each other 25 years now, scarily. 

'We first bonded at drama school when she introduced me to Withnail & I, which was the best thing I'd ever seen.'

Diane went on to recall that she and Maxine believed they were unable to land work due to their northern accents so the pair took elocution lessons together.  

She said: 'Maxine got into Rada, then got cast in Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies, and got a South Bank Show made about her. I couldn't get arrested.' 

Admitting that she did feel a bit jealous at the time, she clarified: 'Yeah, but I couldn't take her entirely seriously. I was laughing when she played Myra Hindley.' 

Not wanting children

Despite one of her iconic roles being a blunt single mum Liz in parenting sitcom Motherland, Diane opened up about why she didn't want children.

The star previously admitted she 'can't see any advantages' of having children as they are 'expensive and a hassle'. 

Speaking in 2021 to the Mirror, Diane said: 'Me and Anna [Maxwell Martin] are always trying to work out ways we can avoid scenes with children.' 

'I've never wanted children for a split second. The pain, the expense, the hassle… I can't see any advantages. 

'Then I work on Motherland and feel vindicated. People say, 'Yeah but who'll look after you in your old age?' What? Are you only having kids to be your carers?'

Famous relatives 

Back in 2020, Diane revealed that she has a trio of famous relatives.

In an interview with The Guardian, she explained: 'My dad died last year but there were a few actors on his side of the family: Julie Goodyear, Frank Finlay and Jack Wild. What a dynasty. We’re like the Redgraves.'

Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear famously portrayed Bet Lynch in the ITV soap on and off between 1966 to 2003.

Frank is best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Iago in Laurence Olivier's 1965 film Othello, with the late actor also having appeared the 1973 film adaptation of The Three Musketeers and 2002's Oscar-winning movie The Pianist.

While Jack is perhaps best known for his part as the Artful Dodger in the 1968 film Oliver!

Love life

Diane was last known to have been in a relationship with boyfriend Ben Caudell, who works as a producer for the BBC.

His TV comedy credits include Peep Show, 10 o'clock Live, Charlie Brooker's Wipe.

It is not known when the couple started dating, but notably, Ben was the executive producer of Diane's comedy series Mandy, which began in 2019 and is due to begin shooting a fourth series in 2025. 

The pair are said to live together in London's Bloomsbury.