Daisy Donovan

11 Jul, 1973 | New York

Actress

Biography

Daisy Donovan is an English television presenter, actress and writer. Personal life Donovan was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her father was celebrity photographer Terence Donovan, while her mother Diana Donovan, is Chairwoman of the English National Ballet School. She is sister to Rockstar Games founder Terry Donovan and half-sister to Big Audio Dynamite keyboard player Dan Donovan - and therefore former sister-in-law of Patsy Kensit. Donovan went to St Paul's Girls School, where she met her inspiration – the High Mistress, Baroness Brigstocke. She went to Cambridge University to read classics, but found that subject was not for her and went to Edinburgh University, graduating in performing arts. She then studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She married long time boyfriend, the Academy Award nominated Ali G producer Dan Mazer, in 2005 in a quiet ceremony in Morocco. Career Donovan became a receptionist, and then a runner on the first series of The Eleven O'Clock Show. The producers were looking for a female interviewer who would act straight but use comedic lines, and searched everywhere - until they tried their receptionist, the rather posh-talking Donovan. She made occasional appearance as "It Girl" Pandora Box-Grainger. In the second series she presented shorts, "Angel of Delight", in which she interviewed politicians – she once asked Denis Healey whether he would ever give Margaret Thatcher a "pearl necklace" – and got the co-host job with Lee from late 1999–2000. In 2000, Donovan was featured prominently in Series 1 of sitcom My Family, playing Brigitte, Ben's annoying, superstitious dental assistant. Donovan has since gone on to host quiz shows: Does Doug Know? and the eponymous Daisy Daisy, which she also wrote and produced. In 2006, Donovan presented the British Fashion awards. She has gained fame in America with her show Daisy Does America.