Dawn Roma French (b.1957) is a British comedienne, actress, and writer. She is best known for her work on television comedy series, including French and Saunders, which she co-created with Jennifer Saunders.
Born in Holyhead, Wales, French trained to become an acting teacher at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama, where she met Jennifer Saunders. Starting at the Comedy Store in London, they created a double act that took them to the forefront of the ‘alternative’ comedy of the time. In 1980, they joined the new Comic Strip, a London comedy club. After appearing in The Comic Strip Presents (1982–93,) the duo were given their own successful BBC series, French and Saunders (s.1987.) They also wrote and starred in Girls on Top (1985–86,) Jam & Jerusalem (2006; U.S.: Clatterford,) and A Bucket o’ French and Saunders (2007.)
In addition to her partnership with Saunders, French has appeared on television in Murder Most Horrid (1991–99,) Sex and Chocolate (1997,) the romantic comedy Ted and Alice (2002,) The Vicar of Dibley (1994–2006,) Lark Rise to Candleford (2008–11,) and The Wrong Mans (2013–14.)
French has also starred on stage in Sharman Macdonald’s When I Was a Girl I Used to Scream and Shout, Ben Elton’s Silly Cow, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2001,) and the one-woman play My Brilliant Divorce (2003.) Her films include The Supergrass (1985) and The Strike (1988.)
In 2014, French launched the solo stand-up show 30 Million Minutes, which toured Great Britain and Australia. Her works include the memoirs Dear Fatty (2008) and Me. You. A Diary (2017.)
The British journalist and biographer Alison Bowyer wrote Dawn French: The Unauthorized Biography (2000.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Dawn French
The best way to lose weight is to put the handle of the fridge two inches from the ground.
—Dawn French
Funny how women are ashamed of their inner fairy whereas men are forever proudly displaying their inner cowboy or fireman
—Dawn French
People need to learn to take everyone as they are.
—Dawn French
If I had been around when Rubens was painting, I would have been revered as a fabulous model. Kate Moss? Well, she would have been the paintbrush.
—Dawn French
Topics: Diet, Perspective
Young people need their own private places which mothers don’t belong to, even if they want mother all around the edge of that.
—Dawn French
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