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Dahl is well known for his dark short stories, which are not exactly children book material
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{{short description|British film producer}}
{{short description|British film producer (born 1938)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{infobox person
{{infobox person
| honorific_prefix = [[Dame]]
| name = Felicity Dahl
| name = Felicity Dahl
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}}
| birth_name = Felicity Ann D'Abreu
| birth_name = Felicity Ann D'Abreu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|12|12|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|12|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Llandaff]], [[Cardiff]], Wales
| birth_place = [[Cardiff]], Wales
| other_names = Lissy, Felicity Ann Dahl
| other_names = Liccy, Felicity Ann Dahl
| occupation = Film producer
| occupation = Film producer
| spouse = {{marriage|Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland|1959|1971|end=div}}<br />{{marriage|[[Roald Dahl]]|1983|1990|end=d}}
| spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland|1959|1971|end=div}}|{{marriage|[[Roald Dahl]]|1983|1990|end=d}}}}
| children = 3
| children = 3
}}
}}
'''Felicity Ann d'Abreu''' (born 12 December 1938) is a British film producer who married the author [[Roald Dahl]] in 1983. She was previously married to Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland. The quietly spoken Dahl gave a rare interview in November 2008 to publicise the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize and reflect on her years with the late author.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/nov/09/felicity-dahl-roald|title=My years with Roald. Felicity Dahl talks to Elizabeth Day|last=Day|first=Elizabeth|date=2008-11-09|work=The Observer|access-date=2019-05-16|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}.</ref>
''' Dame Felicity Ann Dahl''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} ({{née}} '''D'Abreu'''; born 12 December 1938) is a British film producer who married the author [[Roald Dahl]] in 1983. She was previously married to Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland. The quietly spoken Dahl gave a rare interview in November 2008 to publicise the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize and reflect on her years with the late author.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/nov/09/felicity-dahl-roald|title=My years with Roald. Felicity Dahl talks to Elizabeth Day|last=Day|first=Elizabeth|date=9 November 2008|work=The Observer|access-date=16 May 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}.</ref>


== Early life ==
==Early life==
In December 1938, Dahl was born in [[Llandaff]], a district in the north of [[Cardiff]], in Wales. It was coincidentally the birthplace of her future husband Roald Dahl in 1916.
In December 1938, Felicity D'Abreu was born in [[Llandaff]], a district in the north of [[Cardiff]], in Wales. It was coincidentally the birthplace of her future husband Roald Dahl in 1916.


She was the daughter of Pr. Alphonsus D'[[Abreu (surname)|Abreu]] and Elizabeth Throckmorton (granddaughter of [[Throckmorton baronets|Sir Richard Charles Acton Throckmorton, 10th Baronet]]) and the niece of Lt.-Col. Francis D'Abreu who was married to Margaret Bowes-Lyon, the first cousin of the [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Mother]].
She is the daughter of Dr. Alphonsus D'[[Abreu (surname)|Abreu]] and Elizabeth Throckmorton (granddaughter of [[Throckmorton baronets|Sir Richard Charles Acton Throckmorton, 10th Baronet]]) and the niece of Lt.-Col. Francis D'Abreu who was married to Margaret Bowes-Lyon, the first cousin of the [[Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon|Queen Mother]].


== Career ==
== Career ==
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Dahl served as producer of the 1996 film [[Matilda (1996 film)|''Matilda'']] and was executive producer of the 2005 film [[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'']]. Her three preferred choices for the role of [[Willy Wonka]] in the film were [[Eddie Izzard]], [[David Walliams]] and [[Dustin Hoffman]], but she heartily approved of the casting of [[Johnny Depp]].
Dahl served as producer of the 1996 film [[Matilda (1996 film)|''Matilda'']] and was executive producer of the 2005 film [[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'']]. Her three preferred choices for the role of [[Willy Wonka]] in the film were [[Eddie Izzard]], [[David Walliams]] and [[Dustin Hoffman]], but she heartily approved of the casting of [[Johnny Depp]].


Her name "Lissy Dahl" was used as inspiration for the doll owned by Miss Honey in [[Matilda (1996 film)|''Matilda'']].
Her name "Liccy Dahl" was used as inspiration for the doll owned by Miss Honey in the 1996 ''Matilda'' film adaptation.


=== Charity work ===
=== Charity work ===
Dahl founded the Roald Dahl Foundation in 1991 which helped young people with brain, blood and literacy problems.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/thought-could-keep-affair-secret-2139528|title=We thought we could keep our affair secret, says Roald Dahl’s second wife|last=McCarthy|first=James|date=2008-11-12|website=walesonline|access-date=2019-05-16}}</ref> This organisation became Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity in 2010, focusing on supporting seriously ill children. She is co-president and an active supporter even after retiring as a trustee in the mid 2010s. She also founded the [[Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre]] to carry on the literary legacy, creativity and imagination of Roald Dahl's work.
Felicity Dahl founded the Roald Dahl Foundation in 1991 which helped young people with brain, blood and literacy problems.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/thought-could-keep-affair-secret-2139528|title=We thought we could keep our affair secret, says Roald Dahl's second wife|last=McCarthy|first=James|date=12 November 2008|website=walesonline|access-date=16 May 2019}}</ref> This organisation became Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity in 2010, focusing on supporting seriously ill children. She is co-president and an active supporter even after retiring as a trustee in the mid 2010s. She also founded the [[Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre]] in [[Great Missenden]], opened in 2005, which is devoted to storytelling and literacy.


== Personal life ==
==Personal life==
In 1959, Dahl married Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland. They had three children together. In 1971, Dahl divorced Crosland.
In 1959, Felicity D'Abreu married Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland. They had three daughters. In 1971, she divorced Crosland.


Dahl met Roald Dahl while she was working as a set designer on an advert for Maxim coffee with the author's then wife, American actress [[Patricia Neal]]. Soon after the pair were introduced, they began an 11-year relationship before they eventually wed in 1983, at [[London Borough of Lambeth#Landmarks|Brixton Town Hall]] in [[South London]].<ref name=":0" /> Dahl gave up her job and moved into [[Gipsy House]], in [[Great Missenden]] in [[Buckinghamshire]], which had been Roald Dahl's home since 1954. They remained married until Dahl's death at [[Oxford]]’s [[John Radcliffe Hospital]] in 1990.
She met Roald Dahl in 1972 while she was working as a set designer on an advert for Maxim coffee with the author's then-wife, American actress [[Patricia Neal]]. Soon after the pair were introduced, they began an 11-year affair.<ref name="secret">{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/thought-could-keep-affair-secret-2139528|title=We thought we could keep our affair secret, says Roald Dahl's second wife|last=McCarthy|first=James|date=12 November 2008|website=walesonline|access-date=16 May 2019|archive-date=5 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805054708/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/thought-could-keep-affair-secret-2139528|url-status=live}}</ref> They wed after his divorce in 1983, at [[London Borough of Lambeth#Landmarks|Brixton Town Hall]] in [[South London]].<ref name=":0" /> Dahl gave up her job and moved into [[Gipsy House]], in [[Great Missenden]] in [[Buckinghamshire]], which had been Roald Dahl's home since 1954. He died seven years later in 1990, at [[Oxford]]'s [[John Radcliffe Hospital]].


In 1991, Dahl posthumously published ''[[Memories with Food at Gipsy House]]'', a collection of anecdotes and recipes that she had written with her late husband.
In 1991, she published ''[[Memories with Food at Gipsy House]]'', a collection of anecdotes and recipes that she had written with her late husband.


On 14 September 2009 the first [[blue plaque]] in Roald Dahl's honour was unveiled at a sweet shop in Llandaff. Dahl was present for the unveiling.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/8253467.stm|title=Blue plaque marks Dahl sweet shop|date=2009-09-14|access-date=2019-05-16|language=en-GB}}</ref>
On 14 September 2009 the first [[blue plaque]] in Roald Dahl's honour was unveiled at a sweet shop in Llandaff. Dahl was present for the unveiling of the plaque dedicated to her late husband.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/8253467.stm|title=Blue plaque marks Dahl sweet shop|date=14 September 2009|access-date=16 May 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Dahl was appointed [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (DBE) in the [[2024 New Year Honours]] for services to philanthropy, literature and young people.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=64269|supp=y|page=N9|date=30 December 2023}}</ref>


== Filmography ==
== Filmography ==
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| rowspan="2" |Feature film
| rowspan="2" |Feature film
|-
|-
|2023
|2020
|''Chicken Run 2''
|''[[Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget]]''
|}
|}

== Bibliography ==

* ''[[Memories with Food at Gipsy House]]'', Viking Press, 1991, {{ISBN|978-0670834624}}.


== References ==
== References ==
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[[Category:British film producers]]
[[Category:British film producers]]
[[Category:Dahl family|Felicity]]
[[Category:Dahl family|Felicity]]
[[Category:Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People from Llandaff]]

Latest revision as of 23:07, 20 October 2024

Dame
Felicity Dahl
DBE
Born
Felicity Ann D'Abreu

(1938-12-12) 12 December 1938 (age 85)
Cardiff, Wales
Other namesLiccy, Felicity Ann Dahl
OccupationFilm producer
Spouses
  • Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1959; div. 1971)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1983; died 1990)​
Children3

Dame Felicity Ann Dahl DBE (née D'Abreu; born 12 December 1938) is a British film producer who married the author Roald Dahl in 1983. She was previously married to Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland. The quietly spoken Dahl gave a rare interview in November 2008 to publicise the inaugural Roald Dahl Funny Prize and reflect on her years with the late author.[1]

Early life

[edit]

In December 1938, Felicity D'Abreu was born in Llandaff, a district in the north of Cardiff, in Wales. It was coincidentally the birthplace of her future husband Roald Dahl in 1916.

She is the daughter of Dr. Alphonsus D'Abreu and Elizabeth Throckmorton (granddaughter of Sir Richard Charles Acton Throckmorton, 10th Baronet) and the niece of Lt.-Col. Francis D'Abreu who was married to Margaret Bowes-Lyon, the first cousin of the Queen Mother.

Career

[edit]

Film production

[edit]

Dahl served as producer of the 1996 film Matilda and was executive producer of the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Her three preferred choices for the role of Willy Wonka in the film were Eddie Izzard, David Walliams and Dustin Hoffman, but she heartily approved of the casting of Johnny Depp.

Her name "Liccy Dahl" was used as inspiration for the doll owned by Miss Honey in the 1996 Matilda film adaptation.

Charity work

[edit]

Felicity Dahl founded the Roald Dahl Foundation in 1991 which helped young people with brain, blood and literacy problems.[2] This organisation became Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity in 2010, focusing on supporting seriously ill children. She is co-president and an active supporter even after retiring as a trustee in the mid 2010s. She also founded the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, opened in 2005, which is devoted to storytelling and literacy.

Personal life

[edit]

In 1959, Felicity D'Abreu married Charles Reginald Hugh Crosland. They had three daughters. In 1971, she divorced Crosland.

She met Roald Dahl in 1972 while she was working as a set designer on an advert for Maxim coffee with the author's then-wife, American actress Patricia Neal. Soon after the pair were introduced, they began an 11-year affair.[3] They wed after his divorce in 1983, at Brixton Town Hall in South London.[2] Dahl gave up her job and moved into Gipsy House, in Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire, which had been Roald Dahl's home since 1954. He died seven years later in 1990, at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

In 1991, she published Memories with Food at Gipsy House, a collection of anecdotes and recipes that she had written with her late husband.

On 14 September 2009 the first blue plaque in Roald Dahl's honour was unveiled at a sweet shop in Llandaff. Dahl was present for the unveiling of the plaque dedicated to her late husband.[4]

Dahl was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to philanthropy, literature and young people.[5]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1996 Matilda Producer Feature film
2005 Imagine Herself 1 episode
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Executive producer Feature film
2009 Fantastic Mr. Fox Special thanks
2011 BBC Breakfast Herself 1 episode
2019 A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon Special thanks Feature film
2023 Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Day, Elizabeth (9 November 2008). "My years with Roald. Felicity Dahl talks to Elizabeth Day". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 16 May 2019..
  2. ^ a b McCarthy, James (12 November 2008). "We thought we could keep our affair secret, says Roald Dahl's second wife". walesonline. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  3. ^ McCarthy, James (12 November 2008). "We thought we could keep our affair secret, says Roald Dahl's second wife". walesonline. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  4. ^ "Blue plaque marks Dahl sweet shop". 14 September 2009. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  5. ^ "No. 64269". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2023. p. N9.
[edit]
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