FRIENDS and colleagues say theatre producer Diana Bliss – the wife of colourful millionaire Alan Bond - battled significant personal demons before her sudden death at home in Cottesloe on Saturday.
Police confirmed yesterday the coronial investigations unit was investigating the death of 57-year-old Diana Gweneth Bond, who died at her home in Hawkstone Street late on Saturday morning.
There are no suspicious circumstances around the death but an increasingly clear picture is emerging of the personal issues and depression that plagued Ms Bliss - as she was known to the public – in the days before her death.
Tony Bonney, who produced shows with Ms Bliss in Perth and knew her for more than 15 years, said her death had come as a shock but things "added up"
"The last time I spoke to her at any great length was a few months ago, it was obvious that things were getting harder for her," Mr Bonney said.
"It was a shock, but when you piece it all together, you kind of know. It's a terrible shame."
Rodney Phillips, general manager of His Majesty's Theatre, said he had enjoyed swapping stories about the Perth and London theatre scene with Ms Bliss when she was in Perth.
He heard that she had become unwell a couple of months ago.
"I left her a message. Sadly I never heard again from her, I wasn't aware of the sad situation developing," Mr Phillips said.
A 'beautiful wife' lost
Police were called to the Hawkstone Street home about 11.30am on Saturday after being notified of Ms Bliss' death by St John Ambulance.
It has been reported her body was found in a swimming pool in the rear of the property and that a man had called for an ambulance.
Mr Bond, the one-time 1980s high-flier who was later declared bankrupt and spent time in jail, left and then returned to the couple's two-storey house yesterday morning - apparently having gone to church.
Mr Bond, who reinvented himself as a successful businessman after his release from prison, briefly told assembled media that he had lost his "beautiful wife".
A handful of journalists and camera crew spent much of yesterday morning camped outside the home, at which there was a regular flow of people coming and going.
Ms Bliss was known as an intensely private person, which is why she and Mr Bond had spent time living in relative anonymity in London.
A hit in the West End
Perth entertainment publicist Rosita Stangl described Ms Bliss as a "lovely, smiley, gracious lady" and said the true mark of her professional work was her success in the UK.
"If you make it in the West End, you are doing very well, that's why those in the Australian theatre industry respected her so much," Ms Stangl said.
"Top theatre promoters would seek her advice and opinion on what was working in theatre and her opinion on bringing certain shows to Australia."
Those sentiments were echoed by Melbourne Festival artistic director Brett Sheehy, who remembered her as "universally loved" and a champion of the then unknown Tracy Letts in 1997.
6PR entertainment reporter Peter Ford, meanwhile, took to Twitter to express his sadness over the passing of Ms Bliss.
"Diana bliss was [a] gifted woman and lover of the arts but sadly also a deeply troubled woman who did try to get help," he tweeted.
"Money doesn't buy happiness is the old cliche and true...but also mental health issues know no boundaries of class, fame or beauty."
Methodist ministry to big money
The daughter of a Methodist minister, Ms Bliss spent her early teens in Sydney. She met Mr Bond in the 1980s in Perth, and he asked her to run his corporate airline.
Ms Bliss, who preferred to be called Di, also worked in fashion, had a short stint as a Qantas flight attendant and worked in public relations
Mr Bond is one of the most colourful and controversial business characters in WA.
During his high-flying days in the 1980s, he paid Kerry Packer $1 billion for Channel Nine, forked out $54 million for a Van Gogh painting and gained nationwide popularity by funding the historic 1983 America's Cup win of Australia II.
But he was declared bankrupt in 1992 and jailed for fraud in 1997. Mr Bond later re-established himself as a businessman of note after his release from prison in 2000.
Mr Bond had four children with his former wife Eileen - their daughter Susanne died of a morphine overdose in her Peppermint Grove home in 2000.
Mr Bond married Ms Bliss in 1995 after he had been discharged as a bankrupt.
Family too distraught to talk yet
Another of Mr Bond's daughters, Jody, spoke briefly to the media outside the Hawkstone Street home yesterday.
She thanked people for their interest, said the family would eventually "share" something in writing and asked for privacy.
One of Ms Bliss' most recent theatrical roles had been as associate producer of the Perth Theatre Company's production of Equus at His Majesty's Theatre in 2009.
Yesterday the director of that show, PTC artistic director Melissa Cantwell said Ms Bliss would be sorely missed.
"Di was an extraordinary woman - kind, smart, funny, beautiful and inspiring," she said.
"She was a truly gifted producer whose incredible support for me and my company will be treasured always. It's a tragic loss.
"She will be greatly missed by all who knew her, you just couldn't help but love this vivacious, generous and engaging lady. My deepest sympathy to her loved ones and family".
- with Manuel Mitternacht, Ilya Gridneff and AAP
Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by calling SANE Helpline 1800 18 7263; Lifeline 131 114; beyondblue 1300 22 46 36.
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