Few people know that the most powerful woman in Hollywood actually hails from UK shores. In fact, Dame Donna Langley, the film executive behind hits like Oppenheimer and Wicked, actually grew up on the Isle of Wight before slowly but surely rising to the top to create some of the most memorable and successful big screen moments of recent decades.
Donna, 57, who is now the chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, is behind much-loved films such as Fast & Furious, Jurassic World, Oppenheimer and Wicked. At the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards on Sunday 22 February, she will be awarded the Academy’s highest honour, which recognises an outstanding and exceptional contribution to film, games or television.
“It is an incredible honour to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the BAFTA Fellowship,” said Donna, after the announcement earlier this month. “As a Brit, to be recognised by my home country, by my peers and fellow colleagues in the industry, is an absolute privilege.” Previous recipients include Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ridley Scott and Warwick Davis.
The mother-of-two, who is based in Los Angeles, where she moved 30 years ago, is the first British woman to run a major Hollywood studio. However, this isn’t the first big accolade she has received – in 2020, she was awarded the Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire title by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Hollywood rise
Donna was adopted as a baby, the biological daughter of an Egyptian father and English mother, and grew up on the Isle of Wight. She attended Carisbrooke College on the island, which has a population of just 140,000, before studying at Kent College in Canterbury.
As a young woman, Donna began her career as a waitress in LA, before becoming an assistant to a talent manager followed by a job as a production executive. She then rose up the ranks at Universal, which became part of NBCUniversal in 2004.
© Focus Features via Getty ImagesAccording to Forbes, from 2013 to 2019, Donna helped drive $4 billion (£2.96 billion) at the worldwide box office as chair of Universal Pictures. In 2014, an NBCUniversal leadership reshuffle saw her promoted to chairman of the company.
Behind-camera success
Donna has been behind films such as Straight Outta Compton and Get Out, as well as the Bridget Jones, Fast & Furious and Mamma Mia franchises. In an interview with Emma Grede for her Aspire podcast last year, she credits her English roots with helping her “understand what was really funny” when it came to comedy like Austin Powers, which was an early franchise she worked on.
She has been named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the most powerful women and executives in Hollywood. However, as well as film, she also oversees NBCUniversal Entertainment’s TV output, which includes Peacock and Bravo.
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