Dawn French - Personal Life

Personal Life

French met Lenny Henry on the alternative comedy circuit. The couple married on 20 October 1984 in Covent Garden, London. They adopted a daughter, Billie. French has stated that Billie has always known that she was adopted, but once took out an injunction when a biographer came close to revealing the identity of Billie's biological mother. When faced with a question about how she and Henry would feel if Billie wanted to find out about her birth mother, French commented, "Whatever she wants to do when she's 18, we'll support her. What I do worry about is anyone else making the decision for her."

The couple had a home in Shinfield, near Reading, Berkshire and had bought a property in Fowey, Cornwall, where French intends to spend the rest of her life. The £2.3 million mansion with 40 rooms, which overlooks Readymoney Cove and neighbouring Poldridmouth Cove, known as smugglers' cove in the Daphne du Maurier country. The grade II-listed building dates back to the 19th century.

It was once misinterpreted by the press that she was going to Cornwall specifically to die, because of an alleged belief that she would die prematurely. She quashed these rumours during an appearance on Parkinson in November 2007 stating that she liked "being in one place" and simply hoped that this would be her last move. Both her grandmothers had lived to be well over the age of ninety. In the French & Saunders: Still Alive farewell tour, French commented that after the tour was over, she was "going to Cornwall to die, apparently", poking fun at the misinterpretation.

French is a supporter of the Labour Party.

On 6 April 2010, it was announced that French and Henry were to separate after 25 years of marriage. It is believed that the separation was amicable and they decided to split in October of the previous year but left it until then as they were still in discussion over the separation. French and Henry's divorce was finalised in late October 2010.