Julia Davis
Julia Davis | |
---|---|
Born | Julia Charlotte L Davis 25 August 1966 |
Occupation(s) | Comedian, actress, writer, director, producer, musician |
Years active | 1994–present |
Spouse | Julian Barratt |
Children | 2 |
Julia Charlotte L Davis (born 25 August 1966) is an English comedian, actress, writer, director, producer, and musician. She is known for writing and starring in the BBC Three comedy Nighty Night (2004–2005) and the sitcom Hunderby (2012), for which she won a BAFTA TV Award for best comedy writing. She also appeared as Dawn in Gavin & Stacey (2007–2009). Her film roles include Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself (2002), Confetti (2006) and Four Lions (2010).
Early life
Born in Lambeth,[1] Davis grew up in Guildford before moving at the age of 14 with her family to Bath, Somerset.[2] After studying a degree in English and Drama at the College of Ripon and York St John, she returned to Bath and formed a double act with Jane Roth at a local theatre group. They then formed an improvisation troupe along with Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones.
Television
Davis' first break into television was as a regular cast member of Big Train. Her career was given a further boost in 1998 after she sent a tape of various characters to Steve Coogan, who invited to her to write and tour with him later that year. Davis has starred in many comedy television shows in the UK including I'm Alan Partridge, Big Train, Coming Soon, Brass Eye, Jam, Human Remains, Gavin & Stacey, I Am Not An Animal, Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible, Ideal, and Nathan Barley.
In 2004, Davis wrote and starred in the highly acclaimed dark comedy Nighty Night, which returned for a second series in 2005. In more serious roles Davis has starred in productions such as the BBC's For the Love of God, The Alan Clark Diaries, Fear of Fanny, in which she played the original celebrity chef Fanny Cradock, and Persuasion, an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.[3]
In 2009 Davis appeared, in the guise of Steve Coogan's personal assistant Debbie Bidwoden, in the TV Movie Steve Coogan – The Inside Story.[4]
In the last episode of The Office, she is heard on the phone as the voice of a woman from a dating agency in conversation with David Brent.[5] In 2008, she appeared on Little Britain Abroad as a Russian mail-order bride called Ivanka. In 2010, she co-wrote and co-starred in Lizzie and Sarah with Jessica Hynes. The pilot was aired in the UK on 20 March 2010 on BBC2. It was made by Baby Cow, and was noted as being even darker than Davis' previous work;[6] when the BBC did not commission the remaining episodes of the series, there were online protests.[7]
In December 2011, Davis appeared in the second episode of the drama series Black Mirror, "15 Million Merits", as Judge Charity on the fictional talent show Hot Shot.[8] 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.[9] Davis appeared in the pilot episode of Bad Sugar, shown on Channel 4 on 26 August 2012. A full series was set to air in 2013, but was cancelled. Hunderby, created, written, and starring Davis, aired on Sky Atlantic. In 2014, she starred in the short film The Bird.
Personal life
Davis is in a relationship with comedian Julian Barratt.[7][10] They are the parents of twins Arthur and Walter.[11]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2001 | The Parole Officer | Insinuating Wife |
2002 | Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself | Moira |
2003 | Love Actually | Nancy |
2004 | AD/BC: A Rock Opera | Ruth |
2004 | Sex Lives of the Potato Men | Shelley |
2006 | Confetti | Counselor |
2007 | Persuasion | Elizabeth Elliot |
2010 | Come On Eileen | Dee |
2010 | Cemetery Junction | Mrs Taylor |
2010 | Four Lions | Alice |
2014 | The Bird (Short Film) | Mother |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004–2005 | Nighty Night | Jill Tyrell | Creator, writer British Comedy Awards for Best New Comedy Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Performance Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Situation Comedy Nominated – British Comedy Award for Best Female Actress |
2007–2009 | Gavin & Stacey | Dawn | 7 episodes |
2011 | Black Mirror | Judge Hope | Episode "Fifteen Million Merits" |
2012–present | Hunderby | Dorothy | Creator, writer British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Comedy Writing British Comedy Awards for Best New Comedy Programme British Comedy Award for Best Sitcom Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Situation Comedy |
2014 | Inside No. 9 | Felicity | Episode "The Understudy" |
2014 | Psychobitches | Sylvia Plath | Episode 1 |
References
- ^ "Results for Julia C Davis, 1966 quarter 3". Find my past co.uk.
- ^ Gilbert, Gerard (25 August 2012). "Julia Davis: 'I don't want to offend anyone'". The Independent.
- ^ Boyle, Laura (18 July 2011). "Almost Persuaded: ITV's Persuasion". Jane Austen Centre.
- ^ "Steve Coogan - The Inside Story - BBC2 Factual - British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ^ Harvey, Chris (27 August 2012). "Julia Davis on Hunderby, Sky Atlantic: 'My horror of cruelty is why I write about it.'". The Telegraph.
- ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (18 March 2010). "Lizzie and Sarah: has the BBC lost its nerve over this dark comedy?". The Guardian.
- ^ a b Morgan, Eleanor (10 April 2010). "Dark star: Julia Davis". The Guardian.
- ^ "Black Mirror Episode 2 - 15 Million Merits". Channel 4. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ "Its a Don-derful Life". BBC. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ Walker, Tim (5 November 2010). "Julia Davis: TV executives crush comedy". The Telegraph.
- ^ Dickens, Andrew. "Interview: Julia Davis". Stylist. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
External links
- Julia Davis at IMDb
- Julia Davis biography and credits at the BFI's Screenonline
- Julia Davis on BBC comedy site
- Guardian Unlimited interview with Julia Davis, 17 Dec 2004
- Use dmy dates from August 2011
- English stage actresses
- English television actresses
- English radio actresses
- English voice actresses
- English television producers
- English comedy writers
- English women comedians
- Alumni of York St John University
- Women television writers
- 1966 births
- Living people
- People from Bath, Somerset
- Actresses from London
- People from Lambeth
- People from Guildford
- 21st-century English actresses