Amanda Donohoe

About Amanda Donohoe

Amanda Donohoe (born 29 June 1962) is an English actress. She first came to attention as a 16-year-old living with pop singer Adam Ant, appearing in the music videos for the Adam and the Ants singles "Antmusic" (1980) and "Stand and Deliver" (1981) during their four-year relationship. She later moved to the United States, where she appeared in films and on television series, including a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress-winning performance during her two years (1990–92) as C.J. Lamb on the NBC drama series L.A. Law. Other television roles include Natasha Wylde on the British soap opera Emmerdale (2009–10). She has had numerous stage roles, including Yelena in Uncle Vanya (New York 1995).

Donohoe was born in London, to Ted and Joanna Donohoe. She has an older sister, Cordelia. She is of Irish, Russian and Swiss ancestry. Her father worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which led to her family moving a great deal, with a base in London but also living for periods overseas. After her father's retirement, he joined her mother in her antiques-dealing business.

Educated at the Francis Holland School, at age 15 she met Adam Ant. At 16 she left her parents' home, and moved in with Ant in Notting Hill. In 1981, Donohoe appeared in the video clips for the songs "Antmusic" and "Stand and Deliver" by Adam and the Ants, when the band were at the height of their fame. Shortly before the band began their 1981 world tour, Donohoe was offered a place at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She left Ant and went off to drama college.

After graduation, she came to the attention of worldwide audiences in 1986, when she was cast as Lucy Irvine in Castaway. She followed this with roles in two Ken Russell films, The Lair of the White Worm and The Rainbow. Another major film role for her was Liar, Liar (1997).

After relocating to Los Angeles, in February 1991, Donohoe took part in the first of the so-called "lesbian kiss episodes" on American television when her character C.J. Lamb on L.A. Law kissed Abby Perkins, played by Michele Greene. Donohoe appeared in L.A. Law for two seasons. Some of her other television roles include Murder City, Bad Girls and a guest appearance in Ally McBeal.

Donohoe made her Broadway debut in a 1995 production of Uncle Vanya, at the Circle in the Square Theatre. She returned to the UK to play Mrs. Robinson in a 2001 stage production of The Graduate.

Once Donohoe moved back to England, she shifted more of her work there. She had a lead role as DI Susan Alembic in the crime drama Murder City (2004–2006). In 2009 she joined the cast of ITV soap opera Emmerdale as businesswoman Natasha Wylde. Donohoe played the character until leaving the series in November 2010. On 18 and 19 February 2010, she was a guest panellist on Loose Women. She has also lent her voice to the Activision PC video game "Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder" as Karen Gordon.

Donohoe's domestic partner is the multidisciplinary artist Russell Haswell. The pair live in Suffolk.