Julia Davis

Where to watch Julia Davis

• I Am Not an AnimalTV Show · 2004

Biography

Julia Charlotte L. Davis is an English actress, comedian, director and writer. 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). Julia Davis was born in Guildford, Surrey on August 25, 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. 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 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. 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.

Filmography

1. 2025The Toxic Avenger Unratedas Kissy Sturnevan, his Associate
2. 2025Gavin & Stacey: A Fond Farewellas Self
3. 2024Person of Interestas Dr. Kate Shelley
4. 2024Run Rabbit Runas Gail
5. 2022My Massive Cockas Narrator
6. 2022Nude TuesdayWriter
7. 2021A Very British Scandalas Maureen Guinness · 3 episodes
8. 2021Sing 2as Linda Le Bon (voice)
9. 2021The Outlawsas Rita · 1 episode
10. 2021The Clearingas Deb
11. 2019Gavin & Stacey: A Special Christmasas Dawn Sutcliffe
12. 2019Fighting with My Familyas Daphne
13. 2018The Shivering Truthas (voice) · 1 episode
14. 2018Sally4Everas Emma · 7 episodes · Writer · Director · Creator
15. 2018CampingExecutive producer
16. 2018Stath Lets Flatsas Kris · 1 episode
17. 2017Phantom Threadas Lady Baltimore
18. 2017Brakesas Livy
19. 2017Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreamsas Sally Morris · 1 episode
20. 2016Campingas Fay · 6 episodes · Writer · Director · Executive producer · Creator
21. 2014Inside No. 9as Felicity · 1 episode
22. 2013Psychobitchesas Sylvia Plath · 1 episode · Writer
23. 2013It's Kevinas Various · 3 episodes
24. 2012Hunderbyas Dorothy · 10 episodes · Writer · Creator
25. 2012Bad Sugaras Daphne Cauldwell
26. 2011Black Mirroras Judge Charity · 1 episode
27. 2011Arthur Christmasas UNFITA OPS (voice)
28. 2010The Mighty Boosh: Journey of the Childmenas Herself
29. 2010Come on Eileenas Dee
30. 2010Four Lionsas Alice
31. 2010Cemetery Junctionas Mrs. Taylor
32. 2010Lizzie and Sarahas Lizzie/Faith · Writer
33. 2009Steve Coogan: The Inside Storyas Self · Writer
34. 200910 Minute Talesas Overbearing Midwife · 1 episode
35. 2007Gavin & Staceyas Dawn Sutcliffe · 19 episodes
36. 2007Persuasionas Elizabeth Elliot
37. 2007For the Love of Godas Mother
38. 2006Born Equalas Sally
39. 2006The Secret Policeman's Ball: The Ball in the Hallas Self
40. 2006Fear of Fannyas Fanny Cradock
41. 2006Confettias Counsellor
42. 2005Nathan Barleyas Honda Poppet · 1 episode
43. 2005Idealas Dawn · 1 episode
44. 2004AD/BC: A Rock Operaas Ruth
45. 2004I Am Not an Animalas Claire the Rat (voice) · 6 episodes
46. 2004Shaun of the Deadas News Reporter (voice) (uncredited)
47. 2004Sex Lives of the Potato Menas Shelley
48. 2004The Alan Clark Diariesas Jenny Easterbrook · 2 episodes
49. 2004Nighty Nightas Jill Tyrrell · 12 episodes · Producer · Creator
50. 2003Love Actuallyas Nancy the Caterer
51. 2003Hello, Friendas (voice)
52. 2002Wilbur Wants to Kill Himselfas Moira
53. 2001Dr Terrible's House of Horribleas Stephanie Wise · 1 episode
54. 2001The Parole Officeras Insinuating Wife
55. 2000Human Remainsas Various Characters · 6 episodes
56. 2000Jamas Various · 6 episodes
57. 1999Steve Coogan: The Man Who Thinks He's It
58. 1999People Like Usas Lisa Bell · 1 episode
59. 1998Big Train7 episodes
60. 1997I'm Alan Partridgeas Kate Fitzgerald · 1 episode