Felicity Dahl
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Dame Felicity Ann Dahl ( D'Abreu; born 12 December 1938) is a British film producer who married the author
Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British author of popular children's literature and short stories, a poet, screenwriter and a wartime Flying ace, fighter ace. His books have sold more than 300 million copies ...
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.


Early life

In December 1938, Felicity D'Abreu was born in
Llandaff Llandaff (; ; from 'church' and ''River Taff, Taf'') is a district, Community (Wales), community and coterminous electoral ward in the north of Cardiff, capital of Wales. It was incorporated into the city in 1922. It is the seat of the Bisho ...
, a district in the north of
Cardiff Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...
, 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 A queen mother is a former queen, often a queen dowager, who is the mother of the monarch, reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since the early 1560s. It arises in hereditary monarchy, hereditary monarchies in Europe and is also ...
.


Career


Film production

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 Willy Wonka is a fictional character appearing in British author Roald Dahl's 1964 children's novel ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' and its 1972 sequel '' Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator''. He is the eccentric founder and proprieto ...
in the film were
Eddie Izzard Suzy Eddie Izzard ( ; born Edward John Izzard, 7 February 1962) is a British stand-up comedian, actor and activist. Her comedic style takes the form of what appears to the audience as rambling whimsical monologues and self-referential pantomi ...
,
David Walliams David Edward Williams (born 20 August 1971), known professionally as David Walliams (), is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television personality. He is best known for his work with Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch comedy series '' Little ...
and
Dustin Hoffman Dustin Lee Hoffman (born August 8, 1937) is an American actor. As one of the key actors in the formation of New Hollywood, Hoffman is known for Dustin Hoffman filmography, his versatile portrayals of antiheroes and emotionally vulnerable charac ...
, 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

Felicity Dahl founded the Roald Dahl Foundation in 1991 which helped young people with brain, blood and literacy problems. 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

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. They wed after his divorce in 1983, at London Borough of Lambeth#Landmarks, Brixton Town Hall in South London. 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 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. 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.


Filmography


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dahl, Felicity Living people 1938 births British film producers Dahl family, Felicity Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire People from Llandaff