Dani Harmer facts for kids

Danielle Jane Harmer (born 8 February 1989) is an English actress and TV star. She is most famous for playing Tracy Beaker in many CBBC shows. These include The Story of Tracy Beaker (2002–2006) and Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012). She was even nominated for a BAFTA award in 2010 for her role.

Dani also starred in The Tracy Beaker Survival Files (2011–2012) and returned for The Dumping Ground (2018, 2025). More recently, she played Tracy again in My Mum Tracy Beaker (2021) and The Beaker Girls (2021–2023).

Besides Tracy Beaker, Dani played Molly Louise Venables in the BBC One comedy After You've Gone (2007–2008). She also had her own CBBC sitcom, Dani's House (2008–2012), which won awards. Its spin-off was Dani's Castle (2013–2014). Dani also sometimes presented Friday Download and other clips for CBBC.

In 2008, Dani tried out a music career. She signed a record deal and recorded an album called Superheroes. She released one song, "Free," which was the theme for Dani's House. However, the album was never fully released, and she later decided to focus on acting instead.

In 2012, Dani competed in Let's Dance for Sport Relief and finished as a runner-up. Later that year, she joined Strictly Come Dancing. She danced with Vincent Simone and made it to the final, finishing in fourth place.

Dani's Early Life

Danielle Jane Harmer grew up in Bracknell, Berkshire, England. Her parents are Jill and Andy Harmer. She has a younger sister named Betsy.

From the age of five, Dani took drama lessons at Stagecoach. When she was seven, she won a special scholarship to attend Redroofs Theatre School. She left school with three GCSEs, which are important exams in the UK.

Dani's Acting Career

Dani started acting on stage at age six in a musical called The Who's Tommy in London's West End. She has also been in many pantomimes, which are fun, musical plays often performed around Christmas. She played characters like Dolly Mixture in Snow White and the main role in Peter Pan.

She even appeared as an extra in the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Her big break came when she got the main role in the CBBC show The Story of Tracy Beaker. She starred in five series of the show and a TV movie called Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me.

Dani has also appeared in other TV shows like My Family and Pie in the Sky. In 2006, she was a presenter on the Saturday morning show Mighty Truck of Stuff.

In 2008, Dani signed a record deal to make music. She recorded an album called Superheroes and released a song called "Free." This song became the theme tune for her TV show Dani's House. However, the album was not released, and Dani later shared that she decided to focus on her acting career.

Dani returned to play Tracy Beaker in 2010 in the BBC series Tracy Beaker Returns. In this show, Tracy had grown up and was working with children in care. Three series of Tracy Beaker Returns were made. After that, a spin-off show called The Dumping Ground was created. Dani returned to The Dumping Ground for a couple of episodes in 2018.

She also starred in another TV show called Dani's Castle, which was a spin-off from Dani's House. This show aired from 2013 to 2014.

In 2012, Dani joined the popular dancing show Strictly Come Dancing. She danced with professional dancer Vincent Simone. They did very well, reaching the grand final and finishing in fourth place.

In 2018, Dani joined many other celebrities to record a Christmas song called "Rock With Rudolph." The song was made to help raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, a children's hospital.

In 2020, it was announced that Dani would play Tracy Beaker again in a new CBBC series called My Mum Tracy Beaker. This show is about Tracy as a single mum and her relationship with her daughter, Jess. This was followed by The Beaker Girls which aired until 2023.

Dani also runs her own performing arts school in Berkshire called The Dani Harmer Academy. Here, children and young people can take classes in drama, dance, and singing. Dani also works as an acting coach at the academy.

Dani's Personal Life

Dani Harmer has two children with her partner, Simon Brough. Her daughter, Avarie-Belle Betsy Rachel Brough, was born on 28 June 2016. Her son, Rowan León James Brough, was born on 7 February 2022.

Dani has sometimes shared her thoughts on social issues. She has shown support for different groups of people on social media.

Dani's TV Shows

Dani's Movies

Dani's Theatre Roles

Dani on Strictly Come Dancing

Dani Harmer was a contestant on the tenth series of the BBC ballroom dancing show Strictly Come Dancing in 2012. She was paired with professional dancer Vincent Simone. They danced very well and reached the grand final, finishing in fourth place.

Awards and Nominations

Dani Harmer won a Children's BAFTA in 2010 for Best Drama for her role as Tracy Beaker. The show itself was also nominated for an award in 2011. Dani was also nominated for a BAFTA Cymru award for Best Actress for her performance in Tracy Beaker's Movie of Me. Her own popular CBBC show, Dani's House, was nominated for a Children's BAFTA in 2009.

In 2009, Dani Harmer received a special Gold Blue Peter Badge for her work as Tracy Beaker.