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Daisy Donovan
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Daisy Constance Donovan[2] (born 23 July 1973)[1][3][4] is an English television presenter, actress and writer.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Donovan was born in London.[1] Her father was fashion photographer and film director Terence Donovan; her mother, Diana (née St. Felix Dare),[5] was chairwoman of the English National Ballet School. She is sister to Rockstar Games co-founder Terry Donovan and half-sister to Big Audio Dynamite keyboard player Dan Donovan – and former sister-in-law of Patsy Kensit.[3] Donovan went to the independent St Paul's Girls School in Hammersmith, London. She started reading Classics at the University of Cambridge before switching to study English at the University of Edinburgh, where she performed with the Drama Society.[6] She then studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[7]
Career
[edit]Donovan became a receptionist,[4] and then a runner on the first series of The Eleven O'Clock Show. The producers were looking for a female interviewer who would act straight but use comedic lines, and searched everywhere – until they tried their receptionist, the rather posh-talking Donovan. She made occasional appearance as "It Girl" Pandora Box-Grainger. In the second series she presented shorts, 'Angel of Delight', in which she interviewed politicians (she once asked Denis Healey whether he would ever give Margaret Thatcher a "pearl necklace")[8] and got the co-host job with Iain Lee from late 1999–2000.
In 2000, Donovan was featured prominently in series one of sitcom My Family, playing Brigitte, Ben's annoying, superstitious dental assistant.
In 2002 she played Laura in Debbie Isitt's The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband while it ran at The Ambassadors Theatre in the West End.[9]
Donovan subsequently hosted quiz shows: Does Doug Know? and the eponymous Daisy Daisy, which she also wrote and produced. In 2006, Donovan presented the British Fashion awards and later presented one series of a programme based in America called Daisy Does America.
Since 2006 she has concentrated on writing screenplays and acting in minor roles. Donovan appeared in Death at a Funeral (2007),[10] Wild Child (2008) and I Give it a Year (2012).[4]
Personal life
[edit]In 2005 she married her longtime boyfriend, Dan Mazer, a comedy writer and producer, in Morocco.[11] They have two daughters, Maisy[10] and Mini Ivy.[12]
She lives in West London.[8]
Filmography
[edit]| Title | Role | Year | Episode / Series | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spiceworld: The Movie | Reporter | 1997 | uncredited | |
| Still Crazy | Female Reporter | 1998 | ||
| Parting Shots | 1998 | |||
| The Eleven O'Clock Show | Presenter | 1998–2000 | ||
| The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax | Alexanda / Marina | 1999 | ||
| My Family | Brigitte | 2000 | Series 1 | |
| Daisy, Daisy | Host | 2001 | ||
| Does Doug Know? | Host | 2002 | ||
| Second Nature | Kristina Kane / Amy O'Brien | 2003 | ||
| Poirot | Cornelia Robson | 2004 | Death on the Nile | |
| Coming Up | Jen | 2004 | "Pillow Talk" | |
| Millions | Dorothy | 2004 | ||
| Angel's Hell | Polly | 2005 | ||
| Daisy Does America | Host | 2005 | ||
| Death at a Funeral | Martha | 2007 | ||
| Wild Child | Miss Rees-Withers | 2008 | ||
| The Greatest Shows on Earth | Host | 2013 | [13] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "My Week: Daisy Donovan". The Guardian (30 April 2006). Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ "GLOBOMAZERCOMULTRACORP LTD people - Find and update company information". Find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ a b Leith, William (30 March 2002)."Queen of Cringe". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
- ^ a b c Power, Vicki (10 June 2013). "Daisy Donovan: 'I still can't believe I asked Denis Healey if he'd given Margaret Thatcher a pearl necklace'". The Daily Telegraph. London.
- ^ "Terence Donovan, 60, Society Photographer – New York Times". The New York Times. 25 November 1996. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ^ "It's funny how being a mum changed Daisy Donovan". Daily Record. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
- ^ "Daisy Does America – Daisy Donovan". Tbs.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- ^ a b Liam O'Brien (22 June 2013). "The Conversation: Daisy Donovan, TV presenter – Profiles – People". The Independent. London. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ "Theatre review: The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband at New Ambassadors". British Theatre Guide. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Daisy's blooming". Mirror.co.uk. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- ^ "The Times". The Times. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
- ^ Jones, Alice (27 January 2016). "Dan Mazer interview: Sacha Baron Cohen's partner in crime on Dirty Grandpa and the new Bridget Jones film". The Independent. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ^ Eames, Tom (10 June 2013). "Daisy Donovan makes TV comeback". Digitalspy.com. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
External links
[edit]
Daisy Donovan
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Early life
Family background
Daisy Donovan was born on 23 July 1973 in Lambeth, London, England.[8] Although some sources report her birth in Brooklyn, New York, this appears to stem from a brief family stay there, with most records confirming her London origins.[7] She is the daughter of renowned fashion photographer Terence Donovan, a key figure in 1960s Swinging London who captured iconic images of celebrities and models, and his second wife, Diana Donovan (née St. Felix Dare), whom he married in 1970.[9] Terence Donovan died by suicide in 1996 at the age of 60.[5] Her father's high-profile career in photography and film provided an environment rich in artistic and media exposure during her early years.[10] Donovan has a full brother, Terry Donovan, who co-founded the video game company Rockstar Games, and a half-brother, Dan Donovan, from her father's previous relationship, known as the keyboardist for the band Big Audio Dynamite.[5]Education and early influences
Daisy Donovan attended St Paul's Girls' School in west London, an institution known for its rigorous academic environment that encouraged intellectual and creative development among its students.[11] She initially studied Classics at the University of Cambridge before transferring to the University of Edinburgh, where she studied English literature and graduated before advancing her training in the performing arts. During her university years, Donovan actively participated in student theatre through the Edinburgh University Theatre Company, performing at venues like the Bedlam Theatre, which ignited her interest in acting and performance.[11][12][13][7] Following her degree, she honed her dramatic skills at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), completing a specialized program in acting that bridged her academic background to professional pursuits.[11][14] Raised in London's vibrant cultural scene, Donovan drew early inspiration from her father, Terence Donovan, a pioneering fashion photographer whose work immersed the family in artistic and media environments. As a child, she engaged in imaginative play influenced by literary classics, including novels by Jane Austen and Charlotte Brontë, fostering a foundation for her later creative endeavors in performance and storytelling.[11]Career
Television presenting and early work
Daisy Donovan entered the television industry in the late 1990s, beginning her career at Talkback Productions as a receptionist before advancing to a runner position on the first series of the Channel 4 satirical show The 11 O'Clock Show.[1] Her background in performing arts, including an English degree from the University of Edinburgh and training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (Lamda), facilitated this transition into on-screen work.[1] Donovan rose to prominence as co-presenter of The 11 O'Clock Show from 1998 to 2000, alongside Iain Lee, delivering topical sketches, news commentary, and irreverent interviews three nights a week.[15] The program became a cult hit, notably featuring Sacha Baron Cohen in his breakthrough Ali G segments and early appearances by Ricky Gervais, which helped launch their careers.[15] Donovan's signature "Angel of Delight" persona involved deadpan, innuendo-heavy vox-pops and interviews with politicians and celebrities, often targeting her own discomfort for comedic effect, though she later expressed reluctance toward the role's more explicit elements.[1] After The 11 O'Clock Show, Donovan hosted Channel 4's breakfast program RI:SE from 2001 to 2002, a morning magazine show blending news, features, and entertainment segments.[4] She hosted the BBC Two quiz show Does Doug Know? in 2002.[16] She also contributed to early 2000s comedy programming, including producing, writing, and presenting documentaries for Channel 4 on quirky cultural phenomena such as rap battles, spelling bees, and child beauty pageants, with similar projects airing on U.S. network TBS.[17]Acting and later projects
Donovan transitioned from television presenting to acting in the late 1990s, leveraging her on-screen charisma to secure initial film roles. Her debut came in the 1998 rock comedy Still Crazy, where she played a female reporter covering the reunion of a fictional band.[18] She appeared as Brigitte, Ben's superstitious dental assistant, in the first series of the BBC sitcom My Family (2000).[6] In 2004, she appeared in Danny Boyle's family crime drama Millions as Dorothy, a community worker who aids the young protagonists after they discover a bag of stolen money. The role provided supporting depth to the film's themes of morality and windfall, showcasing Donovan's ability to convey warmth in ensemble casts. Her performance contributed to the film's blend of whimsy and ethical dilemmas, earning positive notes for its heartfelt ensemble dynamics. Donovan achieved a breakout in 2007 with the black comedy Death at a Funeral, directed by Frank Oz, where she portrayed Martha, the anxious fiancée navigating family chaos at a dysfunctional funeral. Her comedic timing shone in scenes balancing emotional support for her character and escalating absurdity, particularly in interactions with her strait-laced partner, helping propel the film's farcical energy.[19] Critics praised the ensemble's synergy, with Donovan's portrayal adding relatable tension to the proceedings.[20] The following year, 2008, saw Donovan in two contrasting projects. In the teen comedy Wild Child, she played Miss Rees-Withers, the stern sports teacher at an English boarding school, providing comic foil to the rebellious American protagonist. Her authoritative yet exasperated demeanor enhanced the film's lighthearted clashes between cultures and generations.[21] She also starred as Penny in the independent drama The Waiting Room, a tale of intertwined lives in a hospital, where her role explored quiet vulnerability amid personal crises.[22] Donovan's later film work included a brief appearance as a partygoer in the 2013 romantic comedy I Give It a Year, contributing to its ensemble of wedding attendees.[23] She presented the British Fashion Awards in 2006.[24] In 2013, she hosted the Channel 4 series The Greatest Show on Earth, exploring unusual television formats around the world.[25] Since then, she has taken on selective minor roles while focusing on writing and producing endeavors.Writing and producing
Donovan transitioned to writing and producing in the early 2000s, developing a series of comedy documentaries for Channel 4 that satirized unusual social and cultural phenomena. Her debut effort, the series Daisy, Daisy (2001–2003), featured her as producer and writer, with episodes delving into eccentric British customs and competitive events, such as amateur talent shows and odd societal rituals.[26][11] This work marked her move toward scripted, observational comedy formats that blended humor with cultural commentary. By the mid-2000s, Donovan expanded her producing role internationally, executive producing the TBS comedy series Daisy Does America (2005–2006), which explored American eccentricities through immersive segments on topics including rap battles, spelling bees, child pageants, and dog shows.[27][17] In one notable episode, she participated in a beauty pageant to underscore the competitive intensity of these events, contributing scripts that highlighted satirical insights into American pastimes.[28] This series exemplified her skill in crafting light-hearted yet incisive narratives around bizarre competitions. Donovan has collaborated with her husband, Dan Mazer—a comedy writer and producer known for projects like Borat—on production endeavors, building on their initial partnership during the late 1990s.[29] Beyond television, she has contributed articles to the Sunday Times Style magazine and developed screenplays and non-fiction projects with companies including Working Title TV, StudioCanal, and Lightbox.[17] Her writing emphasizes witty, character-driven explorations of human quirks, informed by her earlier satirical television experience.[25]Personal life
Marriage and family
Daisy Donovan married comedy writer and producer Dan Mazer, whom she met while working on The 11 O'Clock Show, in a private ceremony in Morocco in 2005.[7][30] The couple has two daughters: Maisy Mazer, born in 2007, and Mini Ivy Mazer.[12][8] Donovan has described motherhood as transformative, crediting the birth of her first child with instilling greater organization and punctuality in her daily life, shifting her from a more carefree routine to one centered on family responsibilities.[12] Following her marriage and the arrival of her children, Donovan transitioned from high-profile television presenting to a balance of acting, writing, and producing roles that allowed greater flexibility for family. She cited exhaustion from the demands of on-camera work as a key factor in this change, noting the difficulty of consistently exposing her personal self publicly while prioritizing home life.[3][14] In 2013, Donovan and her family resided in West London.[30]Interests and philanthropy
Daisy Donovan has expressed interests in the arts and comedy, influences that trace back to her family legacy. Her father, the renowned fashion photographer Terence Donovan, immersed the family in creative visual storytelling, fostering an early appreciation for photography and artistic expression. Similarly, her mother, Diana Donovan, has been a prominent figure in the arts sector, serving as former chairman of the Arts Foundation, chairman of the English National Ballet School, and a trustee of The Photographers' Gallery, which likely contributed to Daisy's exposure to cultural and philanthropic endeavors in the creative fields. These familial ties have shaped her personal pursuits, including a noted affinity for humor that mirrors her comedic background. In the early 2000s, Donovan's public persona was highlighted in media features such as FHM's annual 100 Sexiest Women lists, where she ranked in 2000 and 2002, reflecting her appeal as a charismatic television personality during that era. Public records on Donovan's philanthropic activities remain limited as of 2025, with no widely documented personal causes or direct involvements reported, though her mother's longstanding commitments to arts organizations may have indirectly influenced her values. Since around 2013, Donovan has maintained a low public profile, prioritizing family life with her husband and children over professional or public appearances.Filmography
Television
Daisy Donovan began her television career as a presenter on satirical news programme The 11 O'Clock Show from 1998 to 2000.[31] She appeared as Alexandra / Marina in the TV movie The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax in 1999.[32] She appeared as Brigitte McKay, the dental assistant, in seven episodes of the BBC sitcom My Family in 2000.[33] Donovan hosted the comedy travel series Daisy, Daisy from 2001 to 2003.[26] From 2001 to 2002, she co-presented the breakfast show RI:SE on Channel 4.[34] She hosted the comedy quiz show Does Doug Know? in 2002.[16] She played dual roles as Kristina Kane / Amy O'Brien in the TV movie Second Nature in 2003.[35] In 2004, Donovan guest-starred as Cornelia Robson in the ITV series Agatha Christie's Poirot episode "Death on the Nile".[36] She played the role of Polly in the TV movie Angell's Hell in 2005.[37] She played the role of Jen in the 2005 episode "Pillow Talk" of Channel 4's anthology series Coming Up.[38] Donovan presented the American travel comedy series Daisy Does America on TBS from 2005 to 2006.[27] In 2013, she hosted the four-part documentary series The Greatest Shows on Earth on Channel 4, exploring international television phenomena.[39]Film
Daisy Donovan's film appearances began in the late 1990s with small roles in British comedies, transitioning to supporting parts in feature films during the 2000s.[6]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Spice World | Reporter | uncredited[40] |
| 1998 | Still Crazy | Female Reporter | [41] |
| 1998 | Parting Shots | (uncredited) | [42] |
| 2004 | Millions | Dorothy | [43] |
| 2007 | The Waiting Room | Penny | |
| 2007 | Death at a Funeral | Martha | [44] |
| 2008 | Wild Child | Miss Rees-Withers | [45] |
| 2013 | I Give It a Year | Partygoer | [46] |