Dawn French is one of the greatest comedy actresses of our time, with a career spanning nearly three decades and encompassing a vast and brilliant array of characters that would eventually establish her as a national treasure.
She first appeared on the British entertainment scene as part of the groundbreaking alternative comedy group, the Comic Strip, which marked a radical departure from the more traditional comedy acts of the time. Later came the all-female Girls on Top with Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracy Ullman. Then, as part of the wildly successful duo, French and Saunders, Dawn helped create a repertoire of brilliantly observed recurring characters parodying popular culture and impersonating everything from Madonna and Harry Potter to The Exorcist. Dawn's more recent role in The Vicar of Dibley again has showcased not only her talent but also her ability to take a controversial issue and make it mainstream and funny. From her early years as an RAF child to her flat-sharing antics with Jennifer Saunders, from her outspoken views on sizeism to her marriage to Lenny Henry, Dear Fatty will chronicle the fascinating and hilarious rise of a complex, dynamic and unstoppable woman.
Dear Fatty, Dawn French
Read for f2f bookclub which meets soon, and it will be very interesting to see what the entire group makes of this.
Interesting format that means that whilst it might be a memoir, there's a lot that can be left unsaid, a lot that's glossed over or hinted at, and a lot that assumes the reader has some knowledge of Dawn French's life already.
Fair enough I thought - it must be a very uncomfortable thing to sit down and write about your life, especially some very personal and private moments. Particularly poignant to read the comments about now ex-husband Lenny Henry.
Came away from the book with a feeling of a woman who uses humour as both a job device and a coping mechanism.