ON THE COVER Happy 60th Dawn!
With a milestone birthday and the return of Frenchand Saunders, we celebrate the career of a true comedy icon
“THE WHOLE DOUBLE ACT IS AN EXTENSION OF OUR FRIENDSHIP”
Actress, novelist, wife, mother, scriptwriter, charity campaigner… since bursting on to our screens in the 80s, Dawn French has tackled many roles. However, as she celebrates her 60th birthday and we look back on her meteoric rise to national treasure status over the past 40 years, Dawn has one stand out talent that has kept fans of all ages entertained – the ability to make us laugh.
Like many of our favourite British comics, Dawn first came to our attention as part of The Comic Strip in the 80s, alongside people like Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson and, of course, Jennifer Saunders.
The pair had originally met in the late 70s when studying at drama school and apparently took an instant dislike to each other. Thankfully, that rocky start was shortlived and it wasn’t long before they became close friends and flatmates, beginning their journey together to comedy greatness.
After a ratings success in the form of Girls on Top with Ruby Wax and Tracey Ullman, the pair quickly became TV gold with French and Saunders becoming one of the must-see TV show of the 80s and 90s, as millions tuned in regularly to watch the pair’s laugh-out-loud spoofs of big-budget films and celebrities. No famous face was safe. Who could forget the time she gave Leonardo DiCaprio a run for his money as she took on the role of Titanic’s Jack? Or when she appeared complete with specs, cloak and wand as Harry Potter in the special Comic Relief sketch, HarryPotter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan?
The sketch show may have come to an end in 2007 but by way of an extra special Christmas present for their fans this year, the pair recently announced that they will be reuniting for a Christmas Special of French and Saunders to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the very first series of their popular sketch show. It will be the first time the pair will have appeared together professionally in a decade and Dawn is excited:
“The whole double act is an extension of our friendship. We will be making each other laugh forever but just not in front of an audience.”
Aside from that incredibly successful partnership with Jennifer Saunders, Dawn has enjoyed massive solo success, too, in a string of roles.
In the late 90s, Dawn delighted fans in the award-winning comedy, The Vicar of Dibley, in which she portrayed female vicar, Geraldine Granger, in the small fictional village of Dibley in Oxfordshire. Touching, sweet, yet achingly funny, Dibley will always be one of Dawn’s finest per formances as far as fans are concerned. We may not have seen Geraldine since a 2015 Comic Relief special but last year she teased fans with news that we may not have seen the last of the vicar yet…
“You know, we now have church law in the UK that women could be Bishops, so who knows? Watch this space – she might get a promotion!”
In recent years, Dawn has given us more comedy in the form of Jamand Jerusalem as well as showing us a more serious side in Delicious alongside Emilia Fox.
As well as becoming the famous face of Terry’s Chocolate Orange – it’s not Terry’s it’s mine! – Dawn also started to expand her talents beyond the television screen. In 2007 she
released her memoirs, Dear Fatty, and on discovering a talent for writing has since gone on to pen three novels – all bestsellers.
Throughout her career, Dawn has experienced various ups and downs in her private life.
In 2010, Dawn announced she was divorcing husband Lenny Henry after 25 years of marriage.
However, she has since found love again, marrying charity worker, Mark Bignell, in 2013.
Back in 2014, in preparation for surgery, Dawn lost an incredible seven and a half stone, showcasing her new slimline figure earlier this year as she launched her latest collection from her own clothes line, Sixteen47.
As she turns 60, Dawn is a true inspiration to us all – she looks amazing, her career just keeps going from strength to strength and, above all, she’s never failed to make us laugh. Happy birthday, Dawn!