Julia Davis

Julia Davis (born 25 August 1966) is an English actress, comedian, director and writer. She wrote and starred in comedies including Human Remains, Nighty Night (2004–2005), Hunderby (2012–2015), Camping (2016), and Sally4Ever (2018). She is known for her dark or black comedy. in 25 August 1966. She was born in Lambeth, South London, grew up in Guildford, before moving to Bath, Somerset when she was 14. Her mother was a secretary, and her father a civil servant.

Davis describes her childhood as "normal" and "quite suburban". However, she has also said she had quite an "extreme mother", which means she grew up feeling quite insecure. Davis loved Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party as a child. Her first band was called "Hand-Knitted Air Rifles". Her favourite band growing up was Nirvana, and she found folk music too gentle. She was influenced by Steve Coogan and Chris Morris. The group also included actor Toby Longworth and his then-girlfriend radio producer Liz Ansty. which she got Davis involved with. Chris Morris then cast her for his 1997–1999 radio series Blue Jam, its successor March–April 2000 TV show Jam, and Brass Eye.

Human Remains (2000)

In November 2000, Human Remains, a dark comedy television series produced by Steve Coogan's production company Baby Cow

The series consisted of six fake documentaries (across six episodes),

Nighty Night (2004–2005)

Henry Normal from Baby Cow suggested to Davis that she write something on her own, and write a half-hour pilot.

According to the Guardian, the public had assumed that the dark and "weird" parts of Human Remains were down to Rob Brydon, so Nighty Night "carried few expectations and Nighty Night was attended by no hype at all".

2007–2010: Gavin & Stacey and other 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. She also featured in a behind-the-scenes documentary about the finale. When the first series was filmed, Davis was six weeks pregnant with twins.

In 2006, Davis 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 2009, Davis starred in a short film with Richard Ayoade for See Africa Differently, a campaign to showcase the under-reported progress from Africa.

Lizzie & Sarah (2010) Davis and Jessica Hynes met at a party thrown by director Edgar Wright and they soon became friends and comedy partners. Since 2003, Davis and Hynes produced improvised comedy for Resonance FM, under the title Peppatits. The Guardian described it as saying "it makes Nighty Night look like The Wind in the Willows and is perhaps the most challenging comedy Davis has written."

Also in 2010, Davis and Hynes took their collaboration to the Bristol Old Vic as part of the improv festival, Bristol Jam. The Alan Clark Diaries; and Persuasion, an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.

In 2006, Davis starred in the television film Fear of Fanny, in which she played the celebrity chef Fanny Cradock.

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.

On 26 August 2012, Davis appeared in the pilot episode of Bad Sugar on Channel 4. 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 (Part of Playhouse Presents) on Sky Arts. She appeared in the Inside No. 9 episode "The Understudy" (Series 1; Episode 5) as a stage manager.

In 2014, Davis starred as an eccentric mother alongside Al Roberts (Stath Lets Flats) in the comedy short film The Bird, co-directed by Ben Target and Joe Parham.

In 2014, Davis co-wrote (with Nick Mohammed) and starred in a pilot for Channel 4 called Morning Has Broken, about a self-centred daytime TV host. It was inspired by daytime TV, particularly Lorraine Kelly's presenting. It was influenced by Rebecca, as well as Tess of the d'Urbervilles. She worked on the programme with Lucy Lumsden and Stuart Murphy, who were also behind Nighty Night at the BBC. When talking about Hunderby and Sally4Ever, Alex Macqueen said that, for Davis, "if you're not on the verge of corpsing, it's not good enough". The series was nominated for Best Scripted Comedy at the 2013 BAFTA TV Awards and Davis was nominated for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme. It won the awards for Best New Comedy and Best Sitcom at the 2012 British Comedy Awards.

Camping (2016)

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 created, wrote and directed the series for Sky Atlantic. She also starred in it as shallow nymphomaniac, Fay. This was her first series as a director, and Davis for Best Comedy Writer.

In 2018, the series was adapted for American audiences to create a series of the same name by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner. It was originally released on HBO in America, and subsequently on Sky Atlantic in the UK. However, it did not receive good reviews either in the US or UK. The Guardian said that, whilst some of the performances were good, "The reworking deviates from the darkness and dread that made the original black comedy so perfect". . It came out of a short film she was writing with her and Catherine Shepherd, who went on to play Sally in the series. Davis plays the character of Emma, a very manipulative woman has a chaotic affair with the "too-nice" Sally.

Dear Joan and Jericha (2018–2025)

Davis launched the podcast comedy Dear Joan And Jericha with comedian Vicki Pepperdine in 2018. The series has 29 episodes as of March 2025. The Guardian described the podcast as "the funniest, dirtiest podcast you’ll ever hear".

2021–Present 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.

Writing Davis is known for her dark comedy. She said that "I always try to plan the overall story of a series first, but usually I get impatient and have to start writing scenes to reassure myself that there is something tangible that’s going to work, as for me the comedy tends to come from characters more than situations." Eva Wiseman, of The Guardian, similarly said that she finds Davis' "portrayals of monstrous women...wildly liberating". The couple are parents to twin sons (Walter and Arthur) They live in London.

Both of Davis' parents died in Bath of cancer.

Match Point|Julie Woody Allen

The Fairy Moon|The Operator Craig Williams Short film The Toxic Avenger Unrated|Kissy Sturnevan Macon Blair Television

Radio Year TitleStation RoleOther RoleNotes Ref. 1997, 1998,

Theatre

Voiceovers Davis has also done several voiceovers for brands including Marks & Spencer, British Gas, Vodafone, Mastercard and Renault.

Awards

2001: RTS Television Award-Best Television Performance: winner

2003: Bodil-Best Supporting Actress (Bedste kvindelige birolle): nominated 2004: British Comedy Award-Best TV Comedy Actress: nominated 2005: BAFTA TV Award-Best Comedy Performance: nominated 2005: Golden Rose-Best Sitcom Actress: nominated 2005: RTS Television Award-Best Writer - Comedy: winner 2007: Golden Nymph-Television Films - Best Performance by an Actress: nominated 2007: Golden Nymph-Television Films - Best Performance by an Actress: nominated 2007: RTS Television Award-Best Actor - Female: nominated 2013: BAFTA TV Award-Best Situation Comedy: nominated 2013: BAFTA TV Award-Best Writer: Comedy: winner 2013: BAFTA TV Award-Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme: nominated 2013: BAFTA Television Craft Award-Writer: Comedy: winner 2013: Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Multichannel Programme: nominated 2016: BAFTA Television Craft Award-Writer: Comedy: nominated 2016: Broadcasting Press Guild Award-Best Actress: nominated 2017: BAFTA TV Award-Best Scripted Comedy: nominated 2017: BAFTA TV Award-Best Writer: Comedy: nominated 2017: BAFTA Television Craft Award-Writer: Comedy: nominated 2017: British Screenwriters' Award-Best Comedy Writing on Television: nominated 2019: BAFTA TV Award-Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme: nominated

Footnotes