Amanda Donohoe

Born in London to Ted and Joanna Donohoe, she has an older sister, Cordelia. Her father worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, which led to frequent moves, with a base in London but also living periods overseas. After his retirement, he joined her mother in her antiques-dealing business. She is of Irish, Russian and Swiss ancestry, and was educated at the Francis Holland School. Her career spans from 1980 to the present, beginning when she was around 18 years old. After graduation, she caught worldwide attention in 1986 as Lucy Irvine in Castaway, followed by roles in two Ken Russell films, The Lair of the White Worm and The Rainbow, and later Liar, Liar (1997).

Relocating to Los Angeles, in February 1991 she took part in one of the first "lesbian kiss episodes" on American television when her L.A. Law character C.J. Lamb kissed Abby Perkins, played by Michele Greene. She appeared on L.A. Law for two seasons, earning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. Other television roles include Murder City, Bad Girls, and a guest spot on Ally McBeal. She made her Broadway debut in a 1995 production of Uncle Vanya, and returned to the UK for a 2001 stage production of The Graduate. Back in England, she led as DI Susan Alembic in Murder City (2004-2006), played Natasha Wylde on Emmerdale (2009-2010), and voiced Karen Gordon in the PC game Santa Fe Mysteries: The Elk Moon Murder. She is English, with brown hair and brown eyes, stands 5'8", and has a slim build. Her domestic partner is artist Russell Haswell, and they live in Suffolk.