Dawn French

Biography

Dawn Roma French (born 11 October 1957) is a British actress, comedian, presenter and writer. French is known for writing and starring on the BBC comedy sketch show French and Saunders with her best friend and comedy partner, Jennifer Saunders, and played the lead role as Geraldine Granger in the BBC sitcom The Vicar of Dibley. She has been nominated for seven BAFTA TV Awards and won a BAFTA Fellowship with Saunders in 2009.

Known For

The Graham Norton Show

Agatha Christie's Marple

Coraline

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The One Show

The One Show

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Wogan

All Movies (105)

• Becoming Victoria Wood2026 · as Self
• Kirsty MacColl at the BBC2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Joan Rivers at the BBC2024 · as Self (archive footage)
• Dawn French Is a Huge Twat2023 · as Self
• imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter2023 · as Self - Featured Artist
• The Magician's Elephant2023 · as Sister Marie (voice)
• Comedy Classics: The Vicar of Dibley2022 · as Self (archive material)
• Red Riding Hood: After Ever After2022 · as Twit
• Death on the Nile2022 · as Bowers
• An Audience with Adele2021 · as Self
• French & Saunders: Funny Women2021 · as Self
• The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out2021 · as Self
• Roald & Beatrix: The Tail of the Curious Mouse2020 · as Beatrix Potter
• A Baby Reindeer's First Christmas2020 · as Narrator
• The Vicar of Dibley: In Lockdown2020 · as Geraldine Granger
• The Big Night In2020 · as Self
• Completely Bad News2019 · as Tracy
• 300 Years of French & Saunders2017
• Comic Relief: Red Nose Day2017 · as Self
• Dawn French Live: 30 Million Minutes2016 · as Self
• Darcey Bussell: My Life on the BBC2016 · as Self
• British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves2016 · as Various Characters (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie2016 · as Interviewer
• Five Go to Rehab2012 · as George
• 30 Years of Comic Strip2012
• Matthew Bourne's Christmas2011 · as Self - Host
• Michael Bublé: Home for Christmas2011 · as Self
• Catherine Tate: Laughing at the Noughties2011 · as Self
• Gentlemen Prefer French & Saunders2011
• French & Saunders: The Ingenue Years2011
• Psychoville Halloween Special2010 · as Joy Aston
• Victoria Wood: Seen on TV2009
• Coraline: The Making of 'Coraline'2009 · as Self
• Coraline2009 · as Miss Miriam Forcible / Other Forcible (voice)
• French & Saunders: Still Alive2008 · as Self
• Donizetti: La Fille du Régiment2007 · as La Duchesse de Crackentorp
• Love and Other Disasters2006 · as Therapist
• When Comedy Changed Forever2006 · as Self (archive material)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe2005 · as Mrs. Beaver (voice)
• The Comic Strip - A Retrospective2005 · as Self
• The Funny Blokes of British Comedy2005 · as Self
• Comic Aid2005
• Remember the Secret Policeman's Ball?2004 · as Self - Narrator
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban2004 · as The Fat Lady
• The Best of French & Saunders2002 · as Various
• Kirsty: The Life and Songs of Kirsty MacColl2001 · as Self
• French & Saunders - Live2000 · as Various roles
• Maybe Baby2000 · as Charlene
• It’s Lulu1999 · as Self
• Milk1999 · as Virginia
• Four Men in a Car1998 · as Stella
• Sex & Chocolate1997 · as Bev Bodger
• Treasure Island1997 · as Jim Hawkins
• The Adventures of Pinocchio1996 · as Baker's Wife
• French and Saunders' Christmas Carol1994 · as Various Roles
• Dusty1994 · as Self - Presenter
• Tender Loving Care1993 · as Elaine Dobbs
• The Legends of Treasure Island1993 · as Jim Hawkins (voice)
• Space Virgins from Planet Sex1993 · as Gaynor
• French & Saunders: At the Movies1993
• In Dreams1992 · as Driving Instructor
• Red Nose of Courage1992 · as Glynis Kinnock
• Amnesty International's Big 301991 · as Self
• The Tale of Little Pig Robinson1990 · as Porcas
• French & Saunders LIVE1990
• Spaghetti Hoops1990 · as Francesca
• Oxford1990 · as Caroline
• South Atlantic Raiders: Part 11990 · as Frances / Mrs. Shines
• South Atlantic Raiders: Part 2 Argie Bargie!1990 · as Frances
• GLC: The Carnage Continues1990 · as Cher as Joan Ruddock
• The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball1989 · as Self
• Bosses From Hell1989
• Communicators From Hell1989
• Employees From Hell1989
• Customer Service From Hell1989
• Colleagues From Hell1989
• Interviewers From Hell1989
• French And Saunders - Christmas Special '881988 · as Various Characters
• An Audience With Victoria Wood1988 · as Self
• The Storyteller: Sapsorrow1988 · as Badsister 2
• Mr Jolly Lives Next Door1988 · as Mrs. Cooper
• More Bad News1988 · as Rachel
• The Strike1988 · as Verity/Old Lady/Celebrity
• Eat the Rich1987 · as Debbie Draws
• The Silurian Disruption1987 · as Silurian #1
• The Comic Relief Utterly Utterly Rude Video Live1986 · as Self
• Comedians Do It On Stage1986 · as Self
• Private Enterprise1986 · as Nayler
• Consuela (or, The New Mrs Saunders)1986 · as Consuela
• The Supergrass1985 · as Andrea
• Happy Families1985 · as Cook
• Slags1984 · as Passion
• Eddie Monsoon - a Life?1984 · as Veronica
• Gino: Full Story and Pics1984 · as Fiona/Frances
• A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques1984 · as Jackie
• Susie1984 · as Susie
• Dirty Movie1984 · as Monica
• Five Go Mad on Mescalin1983 · as George
• Summer School1983 · as Ursula
• Bad News1983 · as Tracy
• The Beat Generation1983 · as Eleanor
• War1983 · as Hermine
• Five Go Mad in Dorset1982 · as George
• The Comic Strip1981
• Experiment IV— · as First Assistant

All TV Shows (107)

• Can You Keep a Secret?2026 · as Debbie Fendon
• Shaun Tan's Tales from Outer Suburbia2026
• BeddyByes2025 · as Gramma Leeba
• The Nevermets2024 · as Narrator
• Walk the Line2021 · as Self - Judge
• The Secret World Of...2021 · as Self - Narrator
• The Trouble with Maggie Cole2020 · as Maggie Cole
• RuPaul's Drag Race UK2019 · as Self - Guest Judge
• Little Big Shots2017 · as Self - Host
• Delicious2016 · as Gina Benelli
• TFI Friday2015 · as Self
• Travel Man: 48 Hours in...2015 · as Self - Guest
• The Wrong Mans2013 · as Linda
• Heading Out2013 · as Frances
• Superstar2012 · as Self - Chief Judge
• Roger & Val Have Just Got In2010 · as Val Stevenson
• Psychoville2009 · as Joy Aston
• Lark Rise to Candleford2008 · as Caroline Arless
• Dawn French's Boys Who Do Comedy2007 · as Presenter
• More Dawn French's Boys Who Do: Comedy2007 · as Presenter
• A Bucket O' French and Saunders2007
• The Graham Norton Show2007 · as Self
• Comedy Shuffle2007
• More Dawn French's Girls Who Do: Comedy2006 · as Presenter
• Jam and Jerusalem2006 · as Rosie Bales
• The One Show2006 · as Self - Guest
• The One Show2006 · as Self
• Davina2006
• The F Word2005
• Agatha Christie's Marple2004 · as Janet Erskine
• The Paul O'Grady Show2004
• Bosom Pals2004
• Wild West2002 · as Mary Trewednack
• Dawn French's Girls Who Do Comedy2002
• Pongwiffy2002
• V Graham Norton2002 · as Self
• Ted and Alice2002
• Happiness2001 · as Dawn French
• The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything2000
• David Copperfield1999 · as Mrs. Crupp
• Let Them Eat Cake1999
• Parkinson1998 · as Self
• TFI Friday1996 · as Self
• Look at the State We're In!1995 · as Mrs Duvet
• The Vicar of Dibley1994 · as Revd Geraldine Granger
• Harry Enfield and Chums1994 · as Mrs Goggins
• The Legends of Treasure Island1993 · as Jim Hawkins (voice)
• Absolutely Fabulous1992 · as Kathy
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as WPC Diane Softly
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Maria
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Judy Talent
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Rita Proops / Rita Proops II
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Bunty Breslaw
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Miss Katie Hatcliffe / Mrs Sonya Redfern
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Tina Mellish
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Denise Cunningham
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Maude Jenkins
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Lily
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Verity Hodge
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Vicki
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Sally Fairfax
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Dr Kate Marshall
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Daisy Talwinning
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Linda Bryce
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Wendy Hodge
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as The Grim Reaper
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Lily Wood-Newton
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Tracey Phillips
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as WPC Barbara Greaves / Whoopi Stone
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Harriet Snellgrove
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Jill Tanner
• Murder Most Horrid1991 · as Tiffany Drapes
• Screen One1989 · as Elaine Dobbs
• The Storyteller1988 · as Badsister 2
• Going Live!1987 · as Self
• French & Saunders1987 · as Various Characters
• Girls On Top1985 · as Amanda
• Happy Families1985 · as Cook
• The Young Ones1982 · as Christian Evangelist
• The Young Ones1982 · as Devil in Advert
• The Young Ones1982 · as Easter Bunny
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as George
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Ursula
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Hermine
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Veronica
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Passion
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Eleanor
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Nayler
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Jackie/First Nun
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Consuela
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Susie
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Fiona/Frances
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Tracy
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Monica
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Verity/Old Lady/Celebrity
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Rachel
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Mrs. Cooper
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Joan
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Frances/Mrs. Shines
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Frances
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Caroline
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982 · as Francesca
• The Comic Strip Presents...1982
• Wogan1982 · as Self
• An Audience with...1978 · as Self
• The Secret Policeman's Ball1976 · as Self
• The BAFTA Awards1949 · as Self