| British actress, comedian, screenwriter and producer Date of Birth: 11.10.1957 Country: Great Britain |
Dawn French was born on October 11, 1957, in Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. She was raised with her older brother Gary. Their father, Dennis French, served in the Royal Air Force, resulting in frequent family relocations. At three years old, the Frenches lived at Leconfield base, where they met the Queen Mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Dawn later included photos of the event in her show.
French credits her father for instilling confidence and self-worth in her, reminding her daily of her beauty. However, he hid his severe depression and suicide attempts from his children. When Dawn was 19, Dennis died by suicide from carbon monoxide poisoning in his car.
A year after her father's passing, Dawn enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London to study drama. There she met her future friend and colleague, Jennifer Saunders.
Initially, the two actresses did not get along. Saunders saw Dawn as a "pushy upstart," while Dawn perceived Jennifer as "posh and snooty." However, they reconciled and found common ground in their shared experiences as daughters of RAF servicemen.
During their time at RADA, they rented a house together and created a comedy act called "The Menopause Sisters," featuring tampons in their ears. While later deemed cringeworthy, the act gained them an audience.
In the early 1980s, French and Saunders auditioned for the all-male comedy collective "The Comic Strip" and were accepted. The duo performed standup with the group and made their television debut. Dawn also worked as an acting tutor, fulfilling her initial career aspiration.
In 1987, French co-wrote and starred with Jennifer Saunders in "French and Saunders," a sketch comedy series that gained international success. The sitcom ran for 20 years, ending in 2007.
French also pursued a solo career, with her most notable role being the Reverend Geraldine Kennedy in the comedy series "The Vicar of Dibley." The show debuted in 1994, won several British awards and two Emmys, and concluded in 2007. The finale, which saw Geraldine marry her love interest Harry (Richard Armitage), garnered 12.3 million viewers.
French has appeared in feature films such as "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," replacing Elizabeth Spriggs as the Fat Lady, and voiced Mrs. Beaver in "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." She has also been a guest star and judge on shows like "Superstar," "Nine Network," "RuPaul's Drag Race UK," and has appeared in commercials and music videos.
Dawn French is a prolific writer, having published four novels and two autobiographies. Her first autobiography, "Dear Fatty," was released in 2008 and became a bestseller. The book explores her lifelong struggle with weight and body image.
French followed up with a second autobiography, "Me. You. A Diary," in 2017. She has also written plays, including an adaptation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
While working on "The Comic Strip," Dawn met comedian Lenny Henry, and they married in 1984. In the early 1990s, the couple adopted a daughter, Billie.
After 25 years of marriage, Dawn and Lenny decided to part ways in 2009 and divorced in 2010. The following year, Dawn began dating charity executive Mark Bignell, who became her second husband in 2013.
French has been open about her weight struggles and has referred to herself as "fatty" and a "wobbly bottomed girl." After her divorce from Lenny, she lost 50 kilograms (110 pounds), surprising her fans with her slimmed-down physique.
In 2020, Dawn regained weight and referred to herself as a "barrel," but emphasized her disregard for societal opinions on her body.
Dawn French reunited with Jennifer Saunders for the 2022 film "Death on the Nile," a follow-up to Kenneth Branagh's "Murder on the Orient Express." The movie is based on Agatha Christie's novel of the same name and follows the famous detective Hercule Poirot as he investigates a murder on a luxury cruise ship.
French also voiced a character in the upcoming Netflix animated film "The Magician's Elephant," slated for release in 2023. The film is based on the novel of the same name and follows a boy named Peter who searches for his long-lost sister, Adele.