PICTURES: GETTY IMAGES, MIRRORPIX, REX FEATURES, TWITTER
Happily, too, Dawn is definitely
in the best shape of her life as she
embarks on her seventh decade.
Having shed an amazing 48kg over
the past decade, she wowed fans when
she posted a photo of herself on Twitter
looking trim and glowing with health
and contentment (bottom right).
“Wow, Dawn! Looks great! What
happened to the rest of
you?” one of her followers
exclaimed, while another
remarked, “Oh my word!
Where have you gone?”
Clearly Dawn – who
once tipped the scales
at 120kg and famously
quipped, “There are two
types of women... those who like
chocolate and complete bitches” – is
now a staunch advocate of all good
things in moderation.
The performer and bestselling
author has spoken out about her
weight-loss journey, which has
lately involved walking regularly
and eating healthier meals.
Dawn has also revealed the
initial impetus to transform her
body came several years ago as
a result of medical advice.
“When I was due to have my
hysterectomy, the doc told me that
if I could lose some weight befo
the op they would be able to do
via keyhole and I would recover
three weeks or so,” she said duri
her one-woman stage show
30 Million Minutes last year.
Yet an ever-candid Dawn has
confessed that her dramatically
slimmed-down physique has
certainly taken some adjusting.
“I have a great fondness for tha
other body,” she has said. “I knew
it very well and I don’t know this
one as well, not yet.”
In fact, Dawn has insisted she
has no plans for completely losing
her famous curves. And whyever
would she want to?
“I’m happy to have my bosoms
and would never surrender them
to anyone,” the witty star jokes.Best of all, Dawn has always made it
clear that, regardless of what the scales
may say, she simply refuses to let her
size define her as a woman.
“I never really think about how big
I am, how much I weigh, how tall I am,
how old I am,” she reveals. “I’m either
massively delusional and in denial or
they just don’t matter.”
Married for 25 years to
fellow comedian Lenny
Henry, with whom she has
an adopted 25-year-old
daughter, Billie, Dawn is
now very happily hitched
to her second husband,
charity boss Mark Bignell.
Dawn met Mark, who
she fondly calls “Biggs”, via her late
mother Roma. The fact that Mark has
never seen his wife as a celebrity is one
of the things she adores most about
their relationship.
“I’m Roma’s daughter,” Dawn says.
“That’s how he knows me.”
The couple live in Cornwall and love
nothing more than strolling with their
pooch along the beach. As Dawn sagely
observes, “Home is for happiness.”
Career-wise, Dawn is as busy as ever
playing talented chef Gina in the British
drama seriesDelicious, centred around
two women who find themselves“Summer, sunshine and the other
‘S’-word – it will be delicious fun,”
Dawn says about her new TV show.
But life hasn’t always been a barrel
of laughs for Dawn. The comedian has
suffered from the inner-ear disorder
labyrinthitis, a symptom of which can
be extreme vertigo. She was diagnosed
with the debilitating condition while
first touring her one-woman show.
“It’s weird – like you’re drunk but
without alcohol. You’re not sure what’s
up and what’s down,” she explains.
As a result, Dawn knows better than
anyone never to take her health and
wellbeing for granted.
“When you’re over 50, you have to
pay attention to your health,” she says.
“I want to be there for my kid.”
While Dawn has portrayed many
memorable characters over the years,
there’s still one she would dearly love
toplay–areal-life grandmother.
“I know you shouldn’t push your
children to have children,” she says.
“Iknowyou shouldn’t. But I am that
person – the grandparent-in-waiting.”
For now, the irrepressible actress will
have to make do with the adoration of
her legions of fans and will continue to
live and love her own way.
“I just don’t want to do meaningless
things,” she says. “I haven’t got enough
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With comedy
partner
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Saunders