# Julia Davis

Julia Davis (born August 1966) is an English actress, comedian, director and writer. She is known for writing and starring in the BBC Three comedy Nighty Night (2004–2005) and the comedies Hunderby (2012–2015) and Camping (2016), which she also directed.
A nine-time BAFTA TV Award nominee, she won Best Comedy Writing for Hunderby in 2013 and the 2018 British Academy Television Award for Best Scripted Comedy for Sally4Ever. She has also received two RTS Awards and three British Comedy Awards. In addition to acting in her own works, she has appeared in a variety of other British television comedies, most notably portraying Dawn Sutcliffe in Gavin & Stacey (2007–2009, 2019, 2024). Her film roles include Love Actually (2003), Cemetery Junction (2010), Four Lions (2010), and Phantom Thread (2017).

## Early life and education

Julia Davis was born in England in August 1966. Her mother was a secretary, and her father a civil servant. She grew up in Guildford, Surrey, before moving at the age of 14 to Bath in Somerset. She was raised in the Church of England.
After studying for a degree in English and drama at the College of Ripon and York St John, she returned to Bath working "dead-end jobs", starting a comedy double-act The Sisters of Percy with her friend Jane Roth at a local theatre group. It grew into an improv troupe with Welsh radio DJ Rob Brydon and Ruth Jones.

## Career
### 1998–2006: Career beginnings, Human Remains and Nighty Night

Davis decided to become a comedian after a long illness. She secured her first comedy commission, Five Squeezy Pieces, from BBC Radio 4 in 1998. The series was an all-female sketch comedy show, with Meera Syal, Arabella Weir, Maria McErlane, and Claire Calman.
She first appeared on television in 1998 in the BBC sketch show Comedy Nation. During their radio sketch series Five Squeezy Pieces, Arabella Weir introduced Davis to Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan who cast her as a regular cast member in the television sketch show Big Train (1998). Her career gained a further boost in 1998 after she sent a tape of various characters to Steve Coogan, who invited her to write for and participate in his shows during his 1998 national tour. Chris Morris, director of the Big Train pilot, cast her for his 1997–1999 radio series Blue Jam, its successor March–April 2000 TV show Jam, and Brass Eye. Davis went on to appear in many comedy television shows including I'm Alan Partridge, I Am Not an Animal, Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible, Ideal and Nathan Barley.
In November 2000, Human Remains, a dark comedy television series produced by Steve Coogan's production company Baby Cow, co-written by and co-starring Rob Brydon and Davis, debuted on BBC Two. In the six-part series, Brydon and Davis played six different couples talking to camera about their unusual relationships. The last episode of The Office features Davis, who is heard on the phone as the voice of a woman from a dating agency in conversation with David Brent. Davis also appeared in 2003 film Love Actually.
In 2004 and 2005, Davis wrote and starred in two series of the BBC Three dark comedy Nighty Night. The show is centred on her character of peroxide "blonde" sociopathic beauty therapist Jill Tyrell.

### 2007–2010: Gavin & Stacey and Lizzie & Sarah

From 2007 to 2009, she played Dawn Sutcliffe in Gavin & Stacey, a role which she reprised in 2019 for a Christmas special and in 2024 in the finale. In 2006, she appeared on Little Britain Abroad as a sexy Russian mail-order bride called Ivanka.
In 2009, Davis appeared, in the guise of Steve Coogan's personal assistant Debbie Bidwoden, in the TV film Steve Coogan – The Inside Story.
In 2010, she co-wrote and co-starred in Lizzie and Sarah with Jessica Hynes. The pilot aired on 20 March 2010 on BBC Two. It was made by Baby Cow Productions, and was considered even darker than Davis's previous work; when the BBC did not commission a series, despite a Facebook campaign.

### 2011–2014: Black Mirror, Psychobitches and Hunderby

Davis has also 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. In December 2011, Davis appeared in "Fifteen Million Merits", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror, as Judge Charity on the fictional talent show Hot Shot.
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. 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 due to availability of the cast and writers. In 2013, Davis played various characters in BBC sketch show It's Kevin and in Psychobitches on Sky Arts. She appeared in an episode of Inside No. 9 as a stage manager. Davis created, wrote and starred in Hunderby, which aired for two series on Sky Atlantic in 2012 and 2015. For Hunderby, Davis won the BAFTA TV Craft Award for Writing – Comedy. At the 2013 BAFTA TV Awards, Hunderby was nominated for Best Scripted Comedy and Davis was nominated for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme. At the 2012 British Comedy Awards, Hunderby won the awards for Best New Comedy and Best Sitcom.
In 2014, she cowrote and starred in a pilot for Channel 4 called Morning Has Broken, about a struggling daytime TV host. A full series of Morning Has Broken was commissioned but ultimately did not happen. She starred as an eccentric mother in the comedy short film The Bird.

### 2015–present: Camping, Sally4Ever and podcast

In 2015, Davis and Marc Wootton created and starred in BBC Radio 4 comedy series Couples, about couples in therapy. It was reported in 2015 that Davis had been commissioned for a new series, Robin's Test, which was later renamed Camping.
In 2016, Davis wrote, directed and starred as shallow nymphomaniac "Fay" in Camping on Sky Atlantic. This was her directorial debut. At the 2017 BAFTA TV Awards, Camping was nominated for Best Scripted Comedy. In 2017, Davis was featured in the Paul Thomas Anderson film Phantom Thread as Lady Baltimore.
In 2018, Davis wrote, directed and starred in the comedy television series Sally4Ever on Sky Atlantic and HBO. Davis plays the character of Emma, who is having a lesbian affair with a woman called Sally, who is having a midlife crisis. At the 2019 BAFTA awards it won the award for Best Scripted Comedy and Davis was nominated for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme. She also appeared in the film Fighting with My Family.
Davis launched the podcast comedy Dear Joan And Jericha with comedian Vicki Pepperdine in 2018. The series has 28 episodes as of May 2024. Davis and Pepperdine published a book on the back of the podcast, Why He Turns Away: Dos and Don'ts From Dating to Death.
Davis played socialite Maureen, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava, in BBC One historical drama A Very British Scandal, which premiered on BBC One on Boxing Day 2021.
In 2022, Davis appeared in two episodes of The Outlaws, as Rita.

## Influences and reviews

Davis cites Julie Walters as giving her the confidence to pursue a career in comedy.
Discussing her influences for the character of Jill in Nighty Night, Davis told The Guardian that "Most of Jill is an amalgam of women I've seen or worked with in the West Country".
In her book Reclaiming Female Authorship in Contemporary UK Television Comedy (2024) Laura Minor, lecturer in television studies at University of Salford, notes that Davis is known for creating boundary-pushing black comedy that centres female anti-hero characters.

## Personal life

As of November 2022 Davis is in a long term relationship with comedian Julian Barratt of The Mighty Boosh. The couple are parents to twin sons.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1994 | Flush | Cleaner | Short film |
| 2001 | The Parole Officer | Insinuating Wife | |
| 2002 | Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself | Moira | |
| 2003 | Hello Friend | (voice) | Short film |
| 2003 | Love Actually | Nancy the Caterer | Cameo |
| 2004 | Shaun of the Dead | News Reporter (voice) | Uncredited role |
| 2004 | Sex Lives of the Potato Men | Shelley | |
| 2005 | Dating Ray Fenwick | Alison | Short film |
| 2006 | Confetti | Counsellor | |
| 2007 | For the Love of God | Mother (voice) | Short film |
| 2007 | Persuasion | Elizabeth Elliot | |
| 2010 | Come on Eileen | Dee | |
| 2010 | The Lost Explorer | Vera Cleghorn | Short film |
| 2010 | Cemetery Junction | Mrs. Taylor | |
| 2010 | Four Lions | Alice | |
| 2011 | Arthur Christmas | UNFITA OPS (voice) | |
| 2012 | David's Fine | Narrator | Short film |
| 2014 | The Bird | Mother | Short film |
| 2016 | Brakes | Livy | |
| 2017 | Phantom Thread | Lady Baltimore | |
| 2019 | Fighting with My Family | Daphne | |
| 2021 | The Clearing | Deb | Short film |
| 2021 | Sing 2 | Linda Le Bon (voice) | |
| 2023 | Run Rabbit Run | Gail (Nightshift Nurse) | |
| 2023 | The Toxic Avenger | Kissy Sturnevan | |
| 2023 | Sweat | Tracy | Short film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1998 | Comedy Nation | Various | Series 1 |
| 1998–2002 | Big Train | Various | Series 1 & 2 (7 episodes) |
| 1999 | Coming Soon | Kim | Television film |
| 1999 | People Like Us | Lisa Bell | Series 1; Episode 1: "The Managing Director" |
| 1999 | The Comedy Trail: A Shaggy Dog Story | Horse Jockey | Television Special |
| 2000 | Jam | Various | Mini-series; Episodes 1–6 |
| 2000 | Human Remains | Various | Mini-series; Episodes 1–6. Also co-creator and writer |
| 2001 | Brass Eye | Various | Series 2; Episode: "Paedophilia" |
| 2001 | Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible | Stephanie Wise | Episode 4: "And Now the Fearing..." |
| 2002 | Ella and the Mothers | Nicola | Television film |
| 2002 | I'm Alan Partridge | Kate Fitzgerald | Series 2; Episode 6: "Alan Wide Shut" |
| 2003 | The Office | Gillian (voice) | Series 3; Episode 2: "Christmas Special: Part 2" |
| 2004 | The Alan Clark Diaries | Jenny Easterbrook | Episodes 1 & 2: "The March of the Grey Men" and "The Lady" |
| 2004 | I Am Not an Animal | Clair the Rat (voice) | Episodes 1–6 |
| 2004 | AD/BC: A Rock Opera | Ruth | Television film |
| 2004–2005 | Nighty Night | Jill Tyrell | Lead role. Series 1 & 2 (all 12 episodes). Also creator, writer and associate producer. British Comedy Awards for Best New Comedy Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Comedy Performance Nominated – British Comedy Award for Best Female Actress |
| 2005 | Nathan Barley | Honda Poppet | Episode 5 |
| 2006 | Fear of Fanny | Fanny Cradock | Television film |
| 2006 | Born Equal | Sally | Television film |
| 2006 | Little Britain Abroad | Ivanka | Parts 1 & 2 |
| 2007 | Persuasion | Elizabeth Elliot | Television film |
| 2007–2009, 2019, 2024 | Gavin & Stacey | Dawn Sutcliffe | Series 1–3 & 2 Specials (10 episodes) |
| 2008 | Ideal | Dawn | Series 4; Episode 8: "The Future" |
| 2009 | 10 Minute Tales | Overbearing Midwife | Episode 3: "Ding Dong" |
| 2009 | Steve Coogan: The Inside Story | Various | Television film. Also writer |
| 2010 | Lizzie and Sarah | Lizzie / Faith | Television film. Also writer and associate producer |
| 2010 | Checkov Comedy Shorts | Popova | Episode 2: "The Bear" |
| 2010 | Little Crackers | Susan Johnways | Series 1; Episode 10: "Julia Davis's Little Cracker: The Kiss". Also writer and director |
| 2011 | Black Mirror | Judge Charity | Series 1; Episode 2: "Fifteen Million Merits" |
| 2011 | How Not to Live Your Life | Anne Yeaman | Series 4; Episode: "It's a Don-derful Life" |
| 2012 | Uncle Wormsley's Christmas | Mrs. Goodington | Television film |
| 2012 | Bad Sugar | Daphne Cauldwell | Television film (pilot) |
| 2012–2015 | Hunderby | Dorothy | Series 1 & 2 (10 episodes). Also creator and writer British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Comedy Writing (2013) British Comedy Awards for Best New Comedy Programme British Comedy Award for Best Sitcom Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance (2013) Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Situation Comedy (2013) Nominated – British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Comedy Writing (2016) |
| 2013 | It's Kevin | Various | Episodes 1–4 |
| 2013 | Psychobitches | Various | Mini-series; Series 1; Episodes 1–5. Also writer (Episode 3) |
| 2014 | Inside No. 9 | Felicity | Series 1; Episode 5: "The Understudy" |
| 2014 | Morning Has Broken | Gail Sinclair | Television film (pilot). Also creator and writer |
| 2016 | Camping | Fay | Mini-series; Episodes 1–6. Also creator, writer, director and executive producer. Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Scripted Comedy (2017) Nominated – British Academy Television Craft Award for Best Comedy Writing (2017) |
| 2017 | Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams | Sally Morris | Episode 4: "Crazy Diamond" |
| 2018 | Sally4Ever | Emma | Episodes 1–7. Also creator, writer and director British Academy Television Award for Best Scripted Comedy (2019) Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance (2019) |
| 2020 | The Shivering Truth | Various | Series 2; Episode 6: "The Holeways" |
| 2021 | Stath Lets Flats | Kris Collins | Series 3; Episode 3: "A Drink Because of Friendship" |
| 2021 | A Very British Scandal | Maureen Guinness | 3-part mini-series |
| 2022 | The Outlaws | Rita | Series 2; Episode 2 |
| 2023 | Love Me | Kel | Mini-series; Series 2; Episode 1: "Sluta håll med" |
| 2023 | Safe Home | Caitlyn | Episode 3 |
| 2024 | The Regime | Marina | Mini-series; Episode 5: "All Ye Faithful" |
| 2024 | Person of Interest | Dr. Kate Shelley | Television film |

### Radio

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1997 | Blue Jam | Various |
| 1998 | Five Squeezy Pieces | Various |
| 2020 | Edith Sitwell in Scarborough | Lady Ida |

## Footnotes

* ↑ The BFI entry'"`UNIQ--ref-0000000B-QINU`"' and The Guardian interview say she was born in Bath, Somerset;'"`UNIQ--ref-0000000C-QINU`"' The Independent interview says that she grew up in Guildford, Surrey was schooled in the Home Counties, and her parents moved to Bath when she was 14.'"`UNIQ--ref-0000000D-QINU`"' There does not seem to be a reliable secondary source stating second name or other initials.