Dawn French facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dawn French
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French in 2005
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| Born |
Dawn Roma French
11 October 1957 Holyhead, Wales
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| Education | Central School of Speech and Drama (BA) |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1981–present |
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Notable work
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The Comic Strip Presents... French and Saunders Murder Most Horrid The Vicar of Dibley |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 1 |
| Awards | BAFTA Fellowship (2009) |
Dawn Roma French (born 11 October 1957) is a famous British actress, comedian, and writer. She is best known for her work on the BBC comedy show French and Saunders with her comedy partner Jennifer Saunders. She also starred in the popular BBC sitcom The Vicar of Dibley.
French has been nominated for seven British Academy Television Awards. In 2009, she and Saunders won a special BAFTA Fellowship award for their work in comedy.
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Early Life and Education
Dawn French was born in Holyhead, Wales, on October 11, 1957. Her parents were English, and she has an older brother named Gary. Her father, Denys, was in the Royal Air Force (RAF). Because of his job, the family moved around to different RAF bases.
The RAF helped pay for French's education at private schools. She attended St Dunstan's Abbey School for Girls in Plymouth. After finishing school, she studied in New York for a year on a scholarship she won for debating.
French has said her father gave her a lot of self-confidence by telling her she was beautiful every day. When she was 19, her father tragically passed away.
In 1977, French went to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. This is where she met Jennifer Saunders, who would become her longtime comedy partner. At first, they didn't get along because they had different goals. But they soon became good friends while sharing a flat. They started performing comedy together as a duo called the Menopause Sisters.
Famous Television Roles
French has had a long and successful career in television. She started in 1982 on a show called The Comic Strip Presents. This show also featured other famous comedians like Rik Mayall and Robbie Coltrane.
French and Saunders
In 1987, French and Saunders began their own comedy sketch show, French and Saunders. On the show, they made funny spoofs of famous people like Madonna and movies like Star Wars and Harry Potter. The show was very popular and ran for 20 years.
The Vicar of Dibley
French's most famous solo role is in the BBC comedy The Vicar of Dibley. The show was created just for her by writer Richard Curtis. Starting in 1994, she played Geraldine Granger, a funny and kind female vicar in a small village.
The show was a huge hit. The final full episode, where her character got married, was watched by over 12 million people. French has returned for special short episodes of the show, including some for the Comic Relief charity.
Other TV Work
French has appeared in many other TV shows. From 1991 to 1999, she starred in Murder Most Horrid, playing a different character in each episode. She also had roles in dramas like Lark Rise to Candleford and the cooking-themed show Delicious.
In 2021, she was a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, where she helped judge a comedy challenge.
Film and Theatre Career
French has also acted in movies. She played The Fat Lady in the movie Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. She was also the voice of Mrs. Beaver in the Disney movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. In 2022, she appeared in the mystery film Death on the Nile.
On stage, French has performed in plays and even in an opera called The Daughter of the Regiment at the famous Royal Opera House in London. She has also toured with her own one-woman comedy shows.
Writing and Other Work
French is a successful author. She wrote an autobiography called Dear Fatty, which became a bestseller. "Fatty" is her funny nickname for her friend Jennifer Saunders. She has also written several novels, including A Tiny Bit Marvellous and Because of You.
She has been the face of Terry's Chocolate Orange and has done voice-over work for advertisements, including for the store Marks and Spencers.
Personal Life
In 1984, French married comedian Lenny Henry. They adopted a daughter named Billie. French and Henry announced they were separating in 2010 after 25 years of marriage, and their divorce was finalized later that year.
In 2013, French married Mark Bignell. For many years, she lived in Fowey, Cornwall, a place she loves. In 2014, she became the Chancellor of Falmouth University in Cornwall. In 2021, she moved to a different home in the area.
French is a supporter of the Labour Party in the U.K. and is a fan of the Plymouth Argyle football club.
In June 2025, French faced criticism for a video she posted online about the war in Gaza. After people reacted negatively, she removed the video and apologized. She said she never meant to make fun of the terrible events of October 7, 2023.
Awards and Recognition
French has received many awards for her work in comedy.
- In 2003, she was named one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy by The Observer newspaper.
- In 2009, she and Jennifer Saunders received the BAFTA Fellowship, one of the highest honors in British television.
- In 2013, she was named one of the 100 most powerful women in the U.K. by BBC Radio 4.
- In 2025, Royal Mail released a series of stamps to celebrate The Vicar of Dibley, with French appearing on six of them.
Images for kids
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French in 2005
See also
In Spanish: Dawn French para niños
