Amanda Donohoe facts for kids

Amanda Donohoe (born on June 29, 1962) is an English actress. She became known when she was 16 years old, appearing in music videos for the pop band Adam and the Ants. These videos included "Antmusic" (1980) and "Stand and Deliver" (1981).

After her first film, Foreign Body (1986), she starred in Castaway with Oliver Reed. She also worked on two films by director Ken Russell: The Lair of the White Worm (1988) and The Rainbow (1989).

Later, Donohoe moved to the United States. There, she acted in movies and TV shows. She won a Golden Globe Award for her role as C.J. Lamb in the NBC drama series L.A. Law. She played this role for two years (1990–1992). She also appeared in the TV show Frasier. In the UK, she played Natasha Wylde in the soap opera Emmerdale (2009–2010). Amanda Donohoe has also performed in many plays on stage, including Uncle Vanya on Broadway in 1996.

Early Life and Education

Amanda Donohoe was born in London. Her parents are Ted and Joanna Donohoe, and she has an older sister named Cordelia. Her family has roots from Ireland, Russia, and Switzerland. Her father worked for the government, so her family moved often, living in London and also overseas for periods. After her father retired, he joined her mother in her business of selling old and valuable items.

Donohoe went to the Francis Holland School. When she was 15, she met musician Adam Ant. At 16, she started appearing in his music videos. In 1981, she was in the videos for "Antmusic" and "Stand and Deliver" by Adam and the Ants. These videos were shown on TV when the band was very popular. Soon after, Donohoe decided to study acting. She was accepted into the Central School of Speech and Drama and left the music scene.

Acting Career Highlights

After finishing her studies, Amanda Donohoe became known to audiences around the world in 1986. She starred with Oliver Reed as Lucy Irvine in the film Castaway. After this, she acted in two films by director Ken Russell: The Lair of the White Worm and The Rainbow.

In 1990, Donohoe moved to Los Angeles. She started her television career playing the lawyer Cara Jean "C.J." Lamb in the American TV series L.A. Law. She was part of the fifth and sixth seasons of the show. Some of her other TV roles include Bad Girls and a guest appearance in Ally McBeal. She also had a big role in the comedy movie Liar Liar (1997), starring Jim Carrey.

Donohoe made her first appearance on Broadway in 1995 in a play called Uncle Vanya. She returned to the UK to play Mrs. Robinson in a stage play of The Graduate in 2001.

After moving back to the UK in the early 2000s, Donohoe took on the role of DI Susan Alembic in the crime drama Murder City (2004–2006). In 2009, she joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as the businesswoman Natasha Wylde. Donohoe played this character until she left the show in November 2010. She has also used her voice for the Activision PC video game Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder, playing the character Karen Gordon.

Personal Life and Views

Amanda Donohoe has shared her views on different topics. She supports ideas like fairness for everyone and equal rights for women. She has also mentioned her support for the monarchy and the Labour Party in the UK. Donohoe enjoys cooking and finds it a way to relax.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Stage Roles

Awards and Nominations

In 1992, Amanda Donohoe won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film. She received this award for her role in L.A. Law.

See Also

In Spanish: Amanda Donohoe para niños