Lucy Davis was born January 2, 1973, in the United Kingdom. Davis, like many actors before her, came from a family in the entertainment business. Her father was British comedian Jasper Carrott.
Her first acting job came in 1993 when she appeared on her father’s television comedy show The Detectives. She continued to work in British television until a major break came for her in 1995. She landed the role of Maria Lucas in the television mini-series Pride and Prejudice. Adapted from the Jane Austen novel and starring Colin Firth, the production was a huge commercial and critical success.
She bounced around television and film for the next six years, usually appearing for one-episode stints on sitcoms. In 2002 she had a bit part in Nicholas Nickleby, the Charles Dickens adaptation. The film starred Charlie Hunnam, Christopher Plummer, Jim Broadbent, and Anne Hathaway.
But everything changed for Davis in 2001. A then-little known show was aired called The Office. Shot like a documentary, the show needed talented but as of yet undiscovered actors to pull off the illusion the office was a real, everyday paper merchant based in Slough. Davis won the role of receptionist Dawn Tinsley. The show co-starred Ricky Gervais, Martin Freeman, and Mackenzie Crook.
Only running for two seasons and a bonus two-part special, the show nevertheless became a phenomenon. It was also the inspiration for American television series The Office starring Steve Carell.
Riding off her newfound success, Davis starting appearing more regularly in film. Although the film was panned by many critics, the British production Sex Lives of the Potato Men in 2004 was one of her more commercial roles.
Also in 2004, Davis had a co-starring role in the romantic (zombie) comedy Shaun of the Dead. It was a smash success in Britain. Performing so well, the film even crossed the pond and played to receptive U.S. audiences. The film starred British funnymen Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Bill Nighy.
More recently, Davis appeared in the cartoon turned film Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties with Breckin Meyer, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Billly Connolly, and Bill Murray (providing his voice talents).
Further advancing into the U.S. market, Davis appeared on the popular television series Ugly Betty and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.
In 1997, Davis had to undergo a kidney transplant due to unexpected kidney failure. Her mother donated the kidney. Also suffering from diabetes, Davis was hospitalized again in 2005 for another bout of kidney failure. However, she recovered from the recent scare and is doing fine.
On December 9, 2006, Davis and fellow actor Owain Yeoman married. They wed at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, which is where Princess Diana and Prince Charles were married. Many of her Office costars were in attendance.
YUDDY
