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Amanda Donohoe (born 29 June 1962) is an English actress. She first came to public attention at age 16 for her relationship with pop singer Adam Ant, appearing in the music videos for the Adam and the Ants singles "Antmusic" (1980) and "Stand and Deliver" (1981) during their four-year relationship. After making her film debut in Foreign Body (1986), she co-starred in Castaway with Oliver Reed and starred in two films by Ken Russell: The Lair of the White Worm (1988) and The Rainbow (1989).

Donohoe later moved to the United States, where she appeared in films and in television series, which included winning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress during her two years (1990–1992) as C.J. Lamb on the NBC drama series L.A. Law. She also appeared in the series Frasier in the episode "Call Me Irresponsible". Other television roles include Natasha Wylde on the British soap opera Emmerdale (2009–2010). She has had numerous stage roles, including Yelena in a 1996 Broadway production of Uncle Vanya.

Early life

Donohoe was born in London, to Ted and Joanna Donohoe. She has an older sister, Cordelia. She is of Irish, Russian and Swiss ancestry. Her father worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which led to her family moving a great deal, with a base in London but also living for periods overseas. After her father's retirement, he joined her mother in her antiques-dealing business.

Donohoe was educated at the Francis Holland School. When 15 years old, she met Adam Ant and a year later, she left her parents' home and moved in with Ant in Notting Hill. In October 1980, she accompanied Ant to the recording of the Top of the Pops performance of "Dog Eat Dog." Afterwards, in an incident in the BBC corridors, she personally stepped in to physically defend Ant from an assault by rival band 4" Be 2" which was also on the premises.

In 1981, Donohoe appeared in the promotional videos for the songs "Antmusic" and "Stand and Deliver" by Adam and the Ants, which were screened on TV when the band was at the height of its fame. Shortly before the band began its 1981 world tour, Donohoe was offered a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama; she left Ant.

Career

After graduation, Donohoe came to the attention of worldwide audiences in 1986 when she was cast to co-star with Oliver Reed as Lucy Irvine in Castaway. She followed this with roles in two Ken Russell films, The Lair of the White Worm and The Rainbow.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1990, Donohoe made her debut on television in the role of lawyer Cara Jean "C.J." Lamb on the American television series L.A. Law in which she appeared during the fifth and sixth seasons of the series. In February 1991, she took part in the first of the so-called "lesbian kiss episodes" on American television when her character privately kissed fellow lawyer Abby Perkins, played by Michele Greene. Some of her other television roles include Bad Girls and a guest appearance in Ally McBeal. She had a major supporting role in the comedy film Liar Liar (1997), starring Jim Carrey.

Donohoe made her Broadway debut in a 1995 production of Uncle Vanya, at the Circle in the Square Theatre. She returned to the UK to play Mrs. Robinson in a 2001 stage production of The Graduate. In 2002, she attended the gala opening party for Le Touessrok Hotel in Mauritius.

After moving back to the UK in the early 2000s, Donohoe took the role of DI Susan Alembic in the crime drama Murder City (2004–2006). In 2009 she joined the cast of ITV soap opera Emmerdale as businesswoman Natasha Wylde. Donohoe played the character until leaving the series in November 2010. On 18 and 19 February 2010, she was a guest panelist on Loose Women. She has also lent her voice to the Activision PC video game Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder as Karen Gordon.

Personal life

A socialist and feminist, Donohoe said in a Q&A with The Guardian in 2001 that she was categorically opposed to the death penalty, supported the monarchy, and would vote for the Labour Party in the general election of that year. Donohoe considered smoking cigarettes to be her most unappealing habit, and said she cooked and drank good red wine to relax.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Awards and nominations

In 1992, Donohoe won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for her role in L.A. Law.

References

1. "Amanda Donohoe". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023.
2. ^ Lane, Harriet (4 February 2001). "Mrs Robinson, I presume..." The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
3. https://www.discogs.com/artist/119560-4-Be-2
4. Stand and Deliver The Autobiography, Adam Ant, PanMcMillan, 2006
5. Staff writers (23 September 2008). "Amanda Donohoe to join Emmerdale". BBC News. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
6. Canby, Vincent (24 February 1995). "THEATER REVIEW: UNCLE VANYA; A 'Vanya' Of Spite And Fury". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
7. "GALA OPENING PARTY FOR THE 'ONE AND ONLY LE TOUESSROK HOTEL' , MAURITIUS - DEC 2002". Shutterstock. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
8. Alexander, Chris (17 December 2015). "Interview: Amanda Donohoe on Ken Russell's THE LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023.
9. Greenstreet, Rosanna (19 May 2011). "Q&A: Amanda Donohoe". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 July 2023.

External links

• Amanda Donohoe at IMDb

• 1962 births
• Living people
• 20th-century English actresses
• 21st-century English actresses
• Actresses from London
• Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
• Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe (television) winners
• English expatriate actresses in the United States
• English monarchists
• English people of Irish descent
• English people of Russian descent
• English people of Swiss descent
• English film actresses
• English soap opera actresses
• English socialist feminists
• English stage actresses
• English television actresses
• Former Roman Catholics
• People educated at Francis Holland School