By Carole Dennett
Dame Donna’s father, John Langley, dropped into the IW Observer office in Newport last week, and shared a few tales about his famous daughter. “We always let Donna know she was adopted – and that she was special,” he said. “When she was told she’d come from an agency in Knightsbridge, she tried to convince everyone we’d bought her in Harrods. That’s when we realised she had a flair for marvellous stories – and she’s made her living from them.”
John, who sadly lost his wife, Ann, in 2023, would have enjoyed a front row seat at Sunday’s ceremony, alongside Donna’s older sister, Andrea. However it was given to Prince William when he confirmed he would introduce Donna. “It’s a long way down from the Royal Box,” John joked.
He recalled Donna being taken to see Fantasia at the cinema in Ryde. “I think she was frightened to death, but that’s where she was bitten by the bug.” Her first step into the film world came when she was offered the opportunity to work as an unpaid intern at New Line Cinema in Los Angeles, which produced and distributed films and TV shows. Given a pile of scripts to read, she spotted the potential of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. “She’s got vision,” John explained. “She can see potential where others can’t, and that’s been the real secret of her success.”
What makes him proudest is Donna’s determination to help others make their way in life. When she addressed new graduates at the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2019 (visit iw.observer/donna-langley-speech), she shared the lessons she’d learned while climbing the ladder in the cut-throat film industry. “She wants to encourage these youngsters about their future,” John explained. “She says you’ve got to work hard, and you’ve got to be prepared to make mistakes. Don’t worry about mistakes – you learn from them. And, she says, when she goes onto a movie set, she doesn’t expect a chair with her name on it. She wants to know where the tea wagon is so she can make tea for the staff and everyone else.”
The plans for the new Medina Film Studios, in East Cowes, excite John. He sees that it will give Island youngsters great opportunities and something to aim for. Having heard his daughter open her BAFTA Fellowship speech with the words: “I grew up on the Isle of Wight – not exactly known for being an incubator of Hollywood film careers,” he hopes that will change in the not-too-distant future.
John will be 90 in a few months, but he isn’t letting his age slow him down. He’s just returned from spending Christmas with Donna and her American family, and he’s already planning his next trip.
Now where does Dame Donna Langley get her drive and determination from?