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Julia Davis

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For other uses, see Julia Davis (disambiguation).

Julia Davis
Davis in 2019
Born (1966-08-25) August 25, 1966 (age 59)
England
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • director
  • writer
Years active1994–present
Known for
PartnerJulian Barratt (2000–present)
Children2

Julia Davis (born 25 August 1966) is an English actress, comedian, director and writer. She wrote and starred in comedies including Human Remains (2000), Nighty Night (2004–2005), Hunderby (2012–2015), Camping (2016), and Sally4Ever (2018). She is known for her dark or black comedy.

She is a nine-time BAFTA TV Award nominee, she won Best Comedy Writing for Hunderby in 2013 and the 2018 British Academy Television Award for Best Scripted Comedy for Sally4Ever. She has also received two RTS Awards and three British Comedy Awards. In addition to acting in her own works, she has appeared in a variety of other British television comedies, most notably portraying Dawn Sutcliffe in Gavin & Stacey (2007–2009, 2019, 2024). Her film roles include Love Actually (2003), Cemetery Junction (2010), Four Lions (2010), Phantom Thread (2017), and The Toxic Avenger (2023).

Early life and education

[edit]

Julia Davis was born in England[a] in 25 August 1966.[5][1] She was born in South London, grew up in Guildford, before moving to Bath, Somerset.[6] Her mother was a secretary, and her father a civil servant.[2] She was raised in the Church of England.[7] She describes her childhood as "normal" and "quite suburban".[8] However, she has also said she had quite an "extreme mother", which means she grew up feeling quite insecure.[6] Growing up, she thought she would become a teacher, although she hated school.[9]

Davis sang in various folk bands as a teenager.[3] Her first band was called "Hand-Knitted Air Rifles".

After studying for a degree in English and Drama at the College of Ripon and York St John, she returned to Bath because she became ill ("something between glandular fever and ME...some unknown viral...").[6] She began working "dead-end jobs",[2] including teaching, nannying, bartending, cleaning and selling "massive mobile phones".[10][11]

Career

[edit]

1998–2000: Career beginnings

[edit]

Davis decided to become a comedian after her long illness.[1] Davis also cites Julie Walters as giving her the confidence to pursue a career in comedy.[12]

She joined a local drama group in Bath, where she met Jane Roth.[6] Davis and Roth left the group and they started a comedy double-act The Sisters of Percy.[2] They did around six shows around Bath and Glastonbury.[6] When Davis was around 25/26, her and Roth both joined an improv troupe, which included Welsh radio DJ (now actor and comedian) Rob Brydon and comedian and actress Ruth Jones.[2][13] The group also included actor Toby Longworth and his then-girlfriend radio producer Liz Ansty.[6] Ansty was making a show called Five Squeezy Pieces for BBC Radio 4,[14] which she got Davis involved with.[6] The series was an all-female sketch comedy show, with Meera Syal, Arabella Weir, Maria McErlane, and Claire Calman.[7][15][16][2]

Davis first appeared on television in the BBC sketch show Comedy Nation (1998).[1] Arabella Weir introduced Davis to Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan who placed her as a regular cast member in the television sketch show Big Train (1998) with Chris Morris.[15][17][18] Chris Morris then cast her for his 1997–1999 radio series Blue Jam, its successor March–April 2000 TV show Jam, and Brass Eye.[2] As a result of her introductions to various people in television and sending videotapes of her sketches to the BBC,[11] in 1998, her agent sent a tape of various characters to Steve Coogan, he invited her to write for and participate in his shows during his 1998 national tour.[2][10][6]

Davis went on to appear in many comedy television shows including Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible (2001), I'm Alan Partridge (2002), I Am Not an Animal (2004), Ideal (2005) and Nathan Barley (2005).[19][20]

Human Remains (2000)

[edit]
Main article: Human Remains (TV series)

In November 2000, Human Remains, a dark comedy television series produced by Steve Coogan's production company Baby Cow[1], co-written by and co-starring Rob Brydon and Davis, debuted on BBC Two.[citation needed] It was produced by Alison MacPhail.[21]

The series consisted of six fake documentaries (across six episodes),[21] where Brydon and Davis played six different couples talking to camera about their unusual relationships.[18] The scripts were mostly written through improvisation.[10]

Davis won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Performance for the series.[20]

Nighty Night (2004–2005)

[edit]
Main article: Nighty Night

Henry Normal from Baby Cow suggested to Davis that she write something on her own, and write a half-hour pilot.[10][21] In 2004 and 2005, Davis wrote and starred in two series of the BBC Three dark comedy Nighty Night. The show is centred on her character of peroxide "blonde" sociopathic beauty therapist Jill Tyrell.[1] The show came out of a lot of improvisation work between Davis and Jane Stannis.[10]

The character of Jill was inspired by a mixture of things, including: the character Beverly from Human Remains;[21] and Davis' job in the Finance department of Bath University.[10] She said that "Most of Jill is an amalgam of women I've seen or worked with in the West Country".[7] Ruth Jones' character, Linda, was also a development of one of her characters in Human Remains.[21] The character of Don was originally offered to Colin Firth, who did not respond to the offer.

The show was produced by Alison MacPhail, who had also produced Human Remains.[21] The first series took three years to write. Davis' approach to writing is to writing scenes, rather than an overarching story. Jill's costume was created by Claire Finlay.

Davis was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Comedy Performance, and a British Comedy Award for Best Actress, and won a Royal Society of Television Award for Best Comedy Writer.[1][11][20]

Davis was not happy with the second series, saying that "it was too ridiculous".[3] However, she has said she has had ideas for a third series.[22]

Davis has said that commissioning has changed significantly since Nighty Night, and she doubts it would have been commissioned in today's climate.[23]

2007–2010: Gavin & Stacey and other

[edit]

From 2007 to 2009, she played Dawn Sutcliffe in Gavin & Stacey, a role which she reprised in 2019 for a Christmas special and in 2024 in the finale.[citation needed] She also featured in a behind-the-scenes documentary about the finale.[24] When the first series was filmed, Davis was six weeks pregnant with twins.

In 2006, Davis appeared on Little Britain Abroad as a sexy Russian mail-order bride called Ivanka.[citation needed]

In 2009, Davis appeared, in the guise of Steve Coogan's personal assistant Debbie Bidwoden, in the TV film Steve Coogan – The Inside Story.[25][26]

In 2009, Davis starred in a short film with Richard Ayoade for See Africa Differently, a campaign to showcase the under-reported progress from Africa.[27]

Lizzie & Sarah (2010)

[edit]

In 2010, she co-wrote and co-starred in Lizzie and Sarah with Jessica Hynes.[3][28][29] It came out an improvised show they did together for Resonance FM.[6] The pilot is about two middle-class housewives, who are treated badly by their husbands, who wreak revenge on all who have crossed them. The pilot aired on 20 March 2010 on BBC Two at 11:45pm. It was made by Baby Cow Productions, produced by Alison MacPhail, and directed by Elliot Hegarty.

The pilot received no publicity around its transmission, and, Vice says, the "BBC buried it in a graveyard slot".[3] It was considered even darker than Davis's previous work.[30] The Guardian described it as saying "it makes Nighty Night look like The Wind in the Willows and is perhaps the most challenging comedy Davis has written."[31] Despite a Facebook campaign, the BBC did not commission a series.[31][9] Davis was disappointed about this.[3] The Guardian said that the pilot was "beautifully observed", "brave and hilarious" and its "familiarity...makes it both so painful and so funny".[29]

In 2010, Julia Davis and Jessica Hynes performed as their characters from Lizzie and Sarah for the "Angina Monologues", a British comedy show featuring Victoria Wood about women's heart disease.[32][33]

2011–2015: Psychobitches, Morning Has Broken

[edit]

Davis starred in productions such as: the short film For the Love of God (2007);[34] The Alan Clark Diaries; and Persuasion, an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.[35]

In 2006, Davis starred in the television film Fear of Fanny, in which she played the celebrity chef Fanny Cradock.[1] It was directed by Coky Giedroyc.[20] Davis was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for Best Actor for her performance.

In December 2011, Davis appeared in "Fifteen Million Merits", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror, as Judge Charity on the fictional talent show Hot Shot.[36]

On 22 December 2011, she appeared as Anne Yeaman in the Christmas special and finale of the BBC Three comedy How Not to Live Your Life.[37]

On 26 August 2012, Davis appeared in the pilot episode of Bad Sugar on Channel 4.[38] A full series was set to air in 2013, but was cancelled due to availability of the cast and writers.[39]

In 2013, Davis played various characters in BBC sketch show It's Kevin and in Psychobitches (Part of Playhouse Presents) on Sky Arts.[citation needed] She appeared in the Inside No. 9 episode "The Understudy" (Series 1; Episode 5) as a stage manager.[40]

In 2014, Davis starred as an eccentric mother alongside Al Roberts (Stath Lets Flats) in the comedy short film The Bird, co-directed by Ben Target and Joe Parham.[41]

In 2014, Davis co-wrote (with Nick Mohammed) and starred in a pilot for Channel 4 called Morning Has Broken, about a self-centred daytime TV host.[42] It was inspired by daytime TV, particularly Lorraine Kelly's presenting.[43] The pilot starred, alongside Davis and Mohammed: Georgie Glen, Seb Cardinal (Cardinal Burns), Jamie Demetriou and Asim Chaudhry.[42] A full series of Morning Has Broken was commissioned but was not made. It was meant to star David Schwimmer as a US producer, alongside Davis.[43]

In 2015, Davis and Marc Wootton created and starred in BBC Radio 4 comedy series Couples, about couples in therapy.

Hunderby (2012, 2015)

[edit]
Main article: Hunderby

Davis created, wrote and starred in Hunderby, which aired for two series on Sky Atlantic in 2012 and 2015.[8][citation needed] Davis described the show as "Downton Abbey meets Geordie Shore".[43] It was influenced by Rebecca, as well as Tess of the d'Urbervilles.[44] The series is a black comedy set in the 1830s.[45] She worked on the programme with Lucy Lumsden and Stuart Murphy, who were also behind Nighty Night at the BBC.[8]

The work was scripted, not improvised.[46] When talking about Hunderby and Sally4Ever, Alex Macqueen said that, for Davis, "if you're not on the verge of corpsing, it's not good enough".[46]

For Hunderby, Davis won the BAFTA TV Craft Award for Writing – Comedy.[47] The series was nominated for Best Scripted Comedy at the 2013 BAFTA TV Awards and Davis was nominated for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme.[48] It won the awards for Best New Comedy and Best Sitcom at the 2012 British Comedy Awards.[49][50]

Camping (2016)

[edit]
Main article: Camping (British TV series)
Further information: Camping (American TV series)

It was reported in 2015 that Davis had been commissioned for a new series, Robin's Test, which was later renamed Camping.[51] In 2016, Davis created, wrote and directed the series for Sky Atlantic.[3][52] She also starred in it as shallow nymphomaniac, Fay.[53] This was her first series as a director,[45] with her only previous directing credit being an episode of Sky's "Little Crackers" in 2010.[52]

The series is a dark comedy about a group of couples who go camping for someone's 50th birthday, and, Davis says, "One guy unexpectedly arrives with his new girlfriend, which messes up the whole holiday and it descends into a nightmare by the end."[45]

At the 2017 BAFTA TV Awards, Camping was nominated for Best Scripted Comedy[54] and Davis for Best Comedy Writer.[53] The Guardian described it as "craftily observed, beautifully performed, as well as typically, gloriously, boldly bleak."[55]

In 2018, the series was adapted for American audiences to create a series of the same name by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner.[53][56] It was originally released on HBO in America, and subsequently on Sky Atlantic in the UK. However, it did not receive good reviews either in the US or UK.[57] The Guardian said that, whilst some of the performances were good, "The reworking deviates from the darkness and dread that made the original black comedy so perfect".[57]

Sally4Ever (2018)

[edit]
Main article: Sally4Ever

In 2018, Davis wrote, directed and starred in the comedy television series Sally4Ever on Sky Atlantic (in collaboration with HBO)[58].[59] It came out of a short film she was writing with her and Catherine Shepherd, who went on to play Sally in the series.[60] Davis plays the character of Emma, a very manipulative woman has a chaotic affair with the "too-nice" Sally.[59]

At the 2019 BAFTA awards Sally4Ever won the award for Best Scripted Comedy and Davis was nominated for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme.[61]

Dear Joan and Jericha (2018–2025)

[edit]
Julia Davis and Vicky Pepperdine, British Podcast Awards 2019

Davis launched the podcast comedy Dear Joan And Jericha with comedian Vicki Pepperdine[62] in 2018. The series has 29 episodes as of March 2025.[63]

Davis and Pepperdine published a book on the back of the podcast, Why He Turns Away: Dos and Don'ts From Dating to Death.[64]

2021–Present

[edit]

Davis played socialite Maureen, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava, in BBC One historical drama A Very British Scandal, which premiered on BBC One on Boxing Day 2021.[65]

In 2022, Davis appeared in two episodes of The Outlaws, as Rita.[66]

Writing

[edit]

Davis is known for her dark comedy.[3] Her work tends to depict desperately unhappy couples. She has said she enjoys playing the dark characters because it is more fun,[8] and she finds "manipulation and power struggles endlessly fascinating".[59] She has also said that "Most things I do come from something that makes me angry".[9] She is not interested in writing for a mainstream audience, rather something cult for "people who like the same things as I do, who find the same things funny".[31]

Davis has said she always starts writing with the characters, rather than the plot.[67] She said that "I always try to plan the overall story of a series first, but usually I get impatient and have to start writing scenes to reassure myself that there is something tangible that’s going to work, as for me the comedy tends to come from characters more than situations."[59] She also uses improvisation as a tool for writing.[67]

Davis is known by her fellow actors for regularly corpsing on set.[67] Although, she says Catherine Shepherd is worse than her.

Davis is influenced by Harold Pinter.[31] She also says she loves the film Force Majeure, the Danish series Klovn, the work of filmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (particularly Phantom Thread, which she stars in), all of the work in the Dogme movement, and the work of director Yorgos Lanthimos (particularly Dogtooth).[59] In terms of comedy, she loves the films Bridesmaids and Step Brothers; the series One Mississippi, Flight of the Conchords, Eastbound & Down, Strangers with Candy and "anything with Jennifer Saunders or Dawn French."[59] She also loves comedians Jamie Demetriou, Ellie White, Katy Wix and Cardinal Burns.

Reception

[edit]

In her book Reclaiming Female Authorship in Contemporary UK Television Comedy (2024) Laura Minor, lecturer in television studies at University of Salford, notes that Davis is known for creating boundary-pushing black comedy that centres female anti-hero characters.[68] Eva Wiseman, of The Guardian, similarly said that she finds Davis' "portrayals of monstrous women...wildly liberating".[56]

The Gentlewoman said that: "Davis’s strand of funny is demented, lunatic and unhinged, one that repeatedly kicks at the shins of received suburban manners. She often deals in the tricky currency of female cruelty and appears to have identified a new microcosm of the British class system somewhere between working and middle that is in a permanent argument with itself about why life looks the way it does"[9]

Personal life

[edit]

Davis is in a long term relationship with comedian Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh.[69][31][70] The couple are parents to twin sons (Walter and Arthur)[6][31], born in 2007.[44] They live in London.[6]

Davis has experienced depression in the past,[31] and describes herself as "riddled with anxiety".[8] She does not do many interviews as herself (rather than in character), because of her anxiety and not wanting to be in the limelight.[6][31] Whilst Davis writes dark comedy, it is commonly observed that she is shy, cautious and warm.[3][31][71]

Filmography

[edit]
Key
† Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
1994 Flush Cleaner Sean Grundy Short film [20]
2001 The Parole Officer Insinuating Wife John Duigan [1]
2002 Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself Moira Lone Scherfig [3]
2003 Hello Friend (voice) Graham Linehan Short film [72]
Love Actually Nancy, the Caterer Richard Curtis Cameo [73]
2004 Shaun of the Dead News Reporter (voice) Edgar Wright Uncredited role [74]
Sex Lives of the Potato Men Shelley Andy Humphries [1]
2005 Dating Ray Fenwick Alison Kitty Flanagan Short film [75]
Match Point Julie Woody Allen [76]
2006 Confetti Marriage counsellor Debbie Isitt [1]
2007 For the Love of God Mother (voice) Joe Tucker Short film [34]
Persuasion Elizabeth Elliot Adrian Shergold
2010 Come on Eileen Dee Finola Geraghty [77]
The Lost Explorer Vera Cleghorn Tim Walker Short film [20]
Cemetery Junction Mrs Taylor Ricky Gervais,

Stephen Merchant

[20]
Four Lions Alice Chris Morris [20]
2011 Arthur Christmas UNFITA OPS (voice) Sarah Smith Animation [20]
2012 David's Fine Narrator Matt Holt Short film
2014 The Bird Mother Ben Target,

Joe Parham

Short film [41]
2016 Brakes Livy Mercedes Grower [78]
2017 Phantom Thread Lady Baltimore Paul Thomas Anderson [20][79]
2019 Fighting with My Family Daphne Stephen Merchant [80]
2021 The Clearing Deb Dan Hope Short film [81]
Sing 2 Linda Le Bon (voice) Garth Jennings
2022 Nude Tuesday Armağan Ballantyne Writer
2023 Run Rabbit Run Gail (Nightshift Nurse) Daina Reid [20]
The Toxic Avenger Kissy Sturnevan Macon Blair [20]
Sweat Tracy Duncan Loudon Short film [82]
2025 The Fairy Moon The Operator Craig Williams Short film [83]
The Toxic Avenger Unrated Kissy Sturnevan Macon Blair
Or Something Like It (working title) † Jamie Adams [84]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Channel Role Other Role Notes Ref.
1998 Comedy Nation BBC Two Various (Episodes 1, 3, 4) Writer (Episodes 3, 4) Series 1 [1][85]
1999 Steve Coogan: The Man Who Thinks He’s It Recording of live performance at The Palace Theatre, Manchester [86]
Coming Soon Channel 4 Kim Television film [20]
Harry Enfield Special: Songs of Praise From St. Albions ITV1 Jenny Phillips [20]
1998–2002 Big Train BBC Two Various Writer (Additional Material) Series 1 & 2 (7 episodes) [1][20]
1999 People Like Us Lisa Bell Series 1; Episode 1: "The Managing Director" [1][20]
The Comedy Trail: A Shaggy Dog Story Horse Jockey Special
2000 Jam Channel 4 Various Mini-series; Episodes 1–6 [1]
Human Remains BBC Two Various Co-creator, Writer Mini-series; Episodes 1–6. Also [1][20]
2001 Brass Eye Channel 4 Ensemble Actor Series 2; Episode: "Paedogeddon!" [1]
Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible BBC Two Stephanie Wise Episode 4: "And Now the Fearing..." [1]
2002 I'm Alan Partridge Kate Fitzgerald Series 2; Episode 6: "Alan Wide Shut" [1]
Ella and the Mothers BBC One Nicola Television film [87]
2003 The Office BBC Two Gillian (voice) Series 3; Episode 2: "Christmas Special: Part 2" (heard on the phone as the voice of a woman from a dating agency in conversation with David Brent) [88]
Appointment with Dr. Terrible Herself Documentary about the series [89]
Dose BBC One Wales Mrs Harris [90]
2004 The Alan Clark Diaries BBC Jenny Easterbrook Episodes 1 & 2: "The March of the Grey Men" and "The Lady" [20]
I Am Not an Animal BBC Clair the Rat (voice) Episodes 1–6 [91]
AD/BC: A Rock Opera BBC Three Ruth Television film [20]
2004–2005 Nighty Night Jill Tyrell Creator, Writer, Associate Producer Series 1 & 2 (all 12 episodes). [20]
2005 Nathan Barley (working title Box of Slice) Channel 4 Honda Poppet, weather girl Episode 5 [20]
2006 Little Britain Abroad BBC Ivanka Parts 1 & 2 [20]
Fear of Fanny BBC Four Fanny Cradock Television film,

Dir. Coky Giedroyc

[1]
Born Equal BBC Films Sally Television film,

Dir. Dominic Savage

[92]
The Secret Policeman’s Ball: The Ball in the Hall Herself Recording of a live performance at the Royal Albert Hall [93]
2007–2009,
2019, 2024		 Gavin & Stacey BBC Dawn Sutcliffe Series 1–3 & 2 Specials (10 episodes)
2008 Ideal BBC Three Dawn Series 4; Episode 8: "The Future"
2009 10 Minute Tales Sky TV Overbearing Midwife Episode 3: "Ding Dong" [20]
Steve Coogan: The Inside Story BBC Two Various Writer Spoof documentary about Steve Coogan [94]
2010 Lizzie and Sarah Lizzie / Faith Writer, Associate Producer, Composer Pilot [29][28]
Chekkov: Comedy Shorts Sky Arts 2 Popova Episode 2: "The Bear" [20]
Little Crackers Sky One Susan Johnways Writer, Director Series 1; Episode 10: "Julia Davis's Little Cracker: The Kiss" [52]
The Mighty Boosh: Journey of the Childmen Herself Documentary [95]
The Angina Monologues Sky One Lizzie / Faith, Herself Film of the live performance [96]
2011 Black Mirror Channel 4 Judge Charity Series 1; Episode 2: "Fifteen Million Merits" [20]
How Not to Live Your Life BBC Three Anne Yeaman Series 4; Episode: "It's a Don-derful Life"
Steve Coogan Lie: The Man Who Thinks He's It Comedy Central Ensemble Actor Writer [85]
2012 Uncle Wormsley's Christmas Sky Atlantic Mrs. Goodington Television film [97]
Bad Sugar Channel 4 Daphne Cauldwell Creator Pilot
Alan Carr: Chatty Man Herself Series 9, Episode 9 [85]
2012–2015 Hunderby Sky One Dorothy Creator, Writer, Executive Producer Series 1 & 2 (10 episodes) [20]
2013 It's Kevin BBC Two Ensemble Actor Episodes 1–4
Psychobitches Sky Arts Writer (Episode 3) Mini-series; Series 1; Episodes 1–5
2014 Inside No. 9 BBC Two Felicity Series 1; Episode 5: "The Understudy"
Morning Has Broken Channel 4 Gail Sinclair Creator, Writer,

Director, Executive Producer|| Pilot

[20]
2015 Alan Carr: Chatty Man Channel 4 Herself Series 15, Episode 13 [85]
2016 Camping Sky Atlantic Fay Creator, Writer, Director, Executive Producer Mini-series; Episodes 1–6
2017 Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams Sally Morris Episode 4: "Crazy Diamond" [20]
2018 Sally4Ever Sky Atlantic Emma Creator, Writer, Director,

Executive Producer

All episodes [20]
2020 The Shivering Truth Various Series 2, Episode 6: "The Holeways"
2021 Stath Lets Flats Channel 4 Kris Collins Series 3, Episode 3: "A Drink Because of Friendship" [98][99]
A Very British Scandal: The Duchess of Argyll Amazon Maureen Guinness 3-part mini-series [100]
Stand Up & Deliver Channel 4 Narrator Episodes 1 and 2 [101]
2022 The Outlaws BBC Rita Series 2; Episode 2 [20]
My Massive C**k Narrator Documentary [102]
Corpse Talk YouTube Mary Shelley (Voice) Online animation; Halloween Special [103]
2023 Love Me Kel Mini-series; Series 2, Episode 1: "Sluta håll med"
Safe Home Caitlyn Episode 3
2024 The Regime HBO Marina Mini-series; Episode 5: "All Ye Faithful" [20]
Person of Interest Channel 4 Dr. Kate Shelley Television short film [20]
Gavin & Stacey: The Making of the Finale BBC Herself Documentary [104]
2025 Educators Catherine Recurring role. Series 4
Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewell BBC Herself Documentary [105]
2026 Living The Dream † Netflix Various (Voice) Animation [106]

Radio

[edit]
Year Title Station Role Other Role Notes Ref.
1997,

1998,

1999

Blue Jam BBC Radio 1 Ensemble actor Writer (Additional Material) Series 1-3;

by Chris Morris

[107]
1998 The Very World Of Milton Jones BBC Radio 4 Ensemble actor Series 1, Episode 6 [88]
1998, 2000 Five Squeezy Pieces Ensemble actor (Series 1 and 2) Writer (Series 1) Series 1 and 2 [108][109][110]
2008 Nebulous Dean Geraldine Series 3, Episode 2 [85]
2008, 2011 Down The Line Old Lady who get very Upset;

Ensemble actor

Series 3, Episode 1;

Series 4, Episode 7

[85]
2012,

2014, 2017

Kevin Eldon Will See You Now Ensemble actor Series 1, 2, 3 [85]
2013 Hard To Tell Gillian Series 2, Episodes 1-4 [85]
2015 Sleepy Tigers Sheila Writer [85]
Couples (pilot) Various Writer [85]
2016 Couples
2020 Edith Sitwell in Scarborough Lady Ida [111][112]
Now Wash Your Hands Joan Damry Episode 6 [85]
2022 'Whatever Next?' With Miles Jupp Various Episodes 1-4 [113]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Venue Role Other Role Notes Ref.
90s The Sister of Percy Performer Co-writer Comedy revue show
1998 Steve Coogan: The Man Who Thinks He's It Tour - West End, Lyceum Theatre
Contractions Royal Court [20]
Jackpot Bath Fringe Festival Performer Producer
Me Me Me Co-writer With Jane Roth
Sisters Bath Fringe Festival Performer Writer
More Fool Us Performer Live improvised comedy show
Instant Wit Live improvised comedy show

Voiceovers

[edit]

Davis has also done several voiceovers for brands including Marks & Spencer, British Gas, Vodafone, Mastercard and Renault.[76]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ The BFI,[1] The Guardian, and Vice interviews say she was born in Bath, Somerset;[2][3] The Independent interview says that she grew up in Guildford, Surrey was schooled in the Home Counties, and her parents moved to Bath when she was 14.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Davis, Julia (1966-) Biography". BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Davis, Julia (10 August 2012). "Julia Davis: laughing in the dark". The Guardian (Interview). Interviewed by Burkeman, Oliver. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nicholson, Rebecca (14 April 2016). "An Interview with Julia Davis, the Weird Queen of British Comedy". VICE. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
  4. ^ Davis, Julia (25 August 2012). "Julia Davis: 'I don't want to offend anyone'". The Independent (Interview). Interviewed by Gilbert, Gerard.
  5. ^ "Find and update company information". GOV.UK. 7 June 2018. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l EP.167 - JULIA DAVIS | THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2026 – via shows.acast.com.
  7. ^ a b c Jeffries, Stuart (17 December 2004). "I am drawn to extremes". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Woman's Hour - Julia Davis, Anna Del Conte, post-natal psychosis - BBC Sounds". BBC. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d Flynn, Paul (2010). "Julia Davis". The Gentlewoman. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Rob Brydon (24 August 2023). Julia Davis on Human Remains, Working With Daniel-Day Lewis and Touring With Steve Coogan. Retrieved 12 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ a b c "BBC - Comedy - People A-Z - Julia Davis". BBC. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  12. ^ Merry, James (7 March 2016). "The Full Interview: Björk and Julia Davis". AnOther. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  13. ^ "What's occurring with Ruth Jones?". BBC South East Wales. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Five Squeezy Pieces". BBC Programme Index. BBC. 18 November 1998. Archived from the original on 15 April 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2022. 18th Nov 1998, 23:00 on BBC Radio 4 FM ( Source: Radio Times)
  15. ^ a b Dee, Johnny (11 November 2018). "Something of the night". Retrieved 11 November 2018 – via The Times. This led to her being cast in the all-female sketch show Five Squeezy Pieces in ...
  16. ^ Delaney, Sam (3 January 2004). "Interview: comedy writer Julia Davis". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  17. ^ Gibsone, Harriet (22 October 2018). "Julia Davis: 'I'm worried there's going to be a backlash'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  18. ^ a b "BBC - Comedy - Julia Davis Profile". BBC. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  19. ^ "Curriculum Vitae: Julia Davis". Independent Talent Group. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "Julia Davis". Independent Talent Group. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Luminous Studios (6 September 2025). Nighty Night Extras Behind Nighty Night - Julia Davis, Angus Deayton, Rebecca Front, Ruth Jones. Retrieved 12 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ Edinburgh TV Festival (18 September 2015). Hunderby Q&A with Julia Davis & Rufus Jones. Retrieved 20 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  23. ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (14 January 2013). "Hunderby: why this Julia Davis comedy is worth watching". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  24. ^ Dessau, Bruce (10 December 2024). "Interview With Julia Davis Who Plays Dawn In Gavin & Stacey". Beyond The Joke. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  25. ^ "Steve Coogan – The Inside Story – BBC2 Factual". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  26. ^ Harvey, Chris (27 August 2012). "Julia Davis on Hunderby, Sky Atlantic: 'My horror of cruelty is why I write about it.'". The Daily Telegraph.
  27. ^ See Africa Differently (1 April 2009). See Africa Differently - Julia Davis and Job Angus. Retrieved 12 March 2026 – via YouTube.
  28. ^ a b "BBC Two - Lizzie and Sarah". BBC. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
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