Dawn French (1957 - ) is a British comedienne probably best known as one half of the comic duo French & Saunders.

French first came to public attention as a member of the Comic Strip -- part of the alternative comedy scene in the early 1980s. Here she met her future husband Lenny Henry, with whom she has an adopted daughter.

Her most recent big role has been as the title figure in the long running BBC comedy The Vicar of Dibley, created by Richard Curtis.