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Dear Fatty

by Dawn French

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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8533625,120 (3.52)45
"Dawn French is one of the greatest comedy actresses of our time, with a career that has spanned nearly three decades, encompassing a vast and brilliant array of characters. Loved for her irreverant humour, Dawn has achieved massive mainstream success while continuing to push boundaries and challenge stereotypes. Here she describes the journey that would eventually establish her as a perhaps unlikely, but nevertheless genuine, national treasure. Dawn began her career as part of the groundbreaking alternative comedy group, the Comic Strip, marking a radical departure from the more traditional comedy acts of the time. Later came the all-female Girls On Top, which teamed Dawn with Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracy Ullman and firmly established women in British comedy. As part of the wildly successful and much loved duo French and Saunders, Dawn helped create a repetoire of brilliantly observed characters, parodying popular culture and impersonating everything from Madonna and Harry Potter to The Exorcist. Dawn's more recent role in the Vicar of Dibleyshowcased not only her talent but also her ability to take a controversial and topical issue and make it ma… (more)
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» See also 45 mentions

English (35)  Dutch (1)  All languages (36)
Showing 1-5 of 35 (next | show all)
Love Dawn French, love her autobiography. ( )
  jean-sol | Mar 2, 2023 |
I really enjoyed this! I loved the way it was made up of a series of letters, rather than traditional chapters. I loved Dawn’s writing style, it was warm and funny but also poignant. ( )
  thewestwing | Aug 12, 2022 |
So I only read this as a friend was throwing it out as part of her new year declutter. I dipped in and out throughout the year so far (and its been a long one!).

This was released around 2007 I think and it has dated somewhat. Not only has the world moved on but a lot of the anecdotes take on a different tinge when the writer is no longer 51 and married etc but 63 and divorced and quite changed.

This felt a little bit like reading old blog entries from a blogger you have followed recently. It is the same person but its not. There is a lot of nostalgia which both worked and didn't for me in this book. I have a brunette sister born 1957 so some of the cultural references were great and humourous and relevant. However I did not grow up in Britain and do not have a great knowledge of some of the popular culture references of the 1980's and 1990's. This made it both informative (who knew who she did early comedy with and the photos were great). But also this made it feel a tiny bit self indulgent - guess who I knew before they were famous type stuff.

I guess if you knew more about Dawn French this might be fun but I don't beyond a couple of sitcoms and charity appearances so make of that what you will. I think this may have been why I was not engrossed or fascinated as much as I have been by other memoirs of those I know of a little better (Miranda Hart springs to mind). Also the overriding impression was how oddly the book has dated. On the plus side it is well paced and well edited.

( )
  Felicity-Smith | Jan 19, 2022 |
Interesting to read about Dawn's life and her evolution into a comedic star as well as hearing about her personal relationships. A book written in the form of letters to people who are important to her. ( )
  ElizabethCromb | Feb 4, 2021 |
Funny, touching, heartwarming, sad and a life totally unfamiliar to my own experience. I loved her comedy and that of her husband. The book was published shortly before her 25 year marriage dissolved so it was bittersweet to read. Ebullience is the only word for this woman. Indomitable also.
  Karen74Leigh | Sep 4, 2019 |
Showing 1-5 of 35 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Dawn Frenchprimary authorall editionscalculated
Leighton, TrevorCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Tarbuck, LizaNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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SMALLER lyrics by Alison Moyet Taken from the album The Turn I used to dance to the drum in your chest My feet on your feet, my head at your breast You gave me a tune and I carry it still And I promise my darling, that I ever will.
Dedication
For Michelle Lillicrap 1968-2008 Stephen Handy 1972-2008 Marjorie Emily French nee Berry 1908-Forever
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Dear You, Hello.
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"Dawn French is one of the greatest comedy actresses of our time, with a career that has spanned nearly three decades, encompassing a vast and brilliant array of characters. Loved for her irreverant humour, Dawn has achieved massive mainstream success while continuing to push boundaries and challenge stereotypes. Here she describes the journey that would eventually establish her as a perhaps unlikely, but nevertheless genuine, national treasure. Dawn began her career as part of the groundbreaking alternative comedy group, the Comic Strip, marking a radical departure from the more traditional comedy acts of the time. Later came the all-female Girls On Top, which teamed Dawn with Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracy Ullman and firmly established women in British comedy. As part of the wildly successful and much loved duo French and Saunders, Dawn helped create a repetoire of brilliantly observed characters, parodying popular culture and impersonating everything from Madonna and Harry Potter to The Exorcist. Dawn's more recent role in the Vicar of Dibleyshowcased not only her talent but also her ability to take a controversial and topical issue and make it ma

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