Dawn French, the much-loved actress and comedian famed for her work in ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ and ‘French and Saunders’, has long been considered an unofficial ambassador for Cornwall.
Having settled in the region almost 20 years ago, the TV star, 66, often shares snippets of her coastal life, giving fans a window into the scenic beauty she enjoys daily.
The comedy legend, who was born in Wales, originally moved to Cornwall in 2006, where she chose the picturesque village of Fowey as her home.
In 2022, however, Dawn decided to relocate closer to the Devon and Cornwall border, reportedly paying nearly £2million for the new property.
The actress is said to have sold her home in Fowey for £6.6 million in 2021 – triple what she bought it for in 2006 – after deciding the town had become “too cool and trendy”.
Before the move, she regularly treated fans to an insight into the Cornish way of life. She previously lived in a lavish 15-bedroom mansion, which boasted extraordinary vistas of the estuary.
In an unexpected twist, it was disclosed by a pal that Dawn had sold the stately property in pursuit of a more tranquil lifestyle in a quieter part of Cornwall.
She now lives in a secluded village elsewhere in Cornwall with waterside views with her husband Mark Bignell.
The beautiful location is off the beaten tourist track, enabling the couple to avoid the tourist crowds of Fowey in the summer.
Dawn moved into the Grade-II listed house in Fowey in 2006 with her then-husband Sir Lenny Henry and their daughter Billie. The couple divorced in 2010.
In 2013, she married her now-husband Mark, a therapist, but she continued to live in the home.
Throughout her stay in Cornwall, Dawn has not only showcased the county’s landscapes but also its culinary offerings, often making remarks about local eateries and commending them for their “unpretentious” vibe and delicious food, reports Cornwall Live.
The comedy queen also injects humour into her portrayal of Cornish living. She often shares photos of lesser-known yet picturesque haunts like the dog-friendly Par Beach, a favourite spot for walking her pooch.
Some of Dawn’s favourite Cornish spots include Edie’s Kitchen in Carlyon Bay, which is just a short drive from her previous home.
The actress hailed it as the highlight of her dining experiences that year, praising the restaurant for its “unpretentious, fresh, tasty good-lookin grub” in a tweet.
In September 2018, the national treasure Dawn French surprised fellow diners at Edie’s Kitchen when she dined there while filming the third series of her popular show ‘Delicious’.
Another favourite haunt is the Hidden Hut in Portscatho lies the Hidden Hut, heralded as one of Cornwall’s hotspots.
Its appeal has drawn plaudits from A-listers such as celebs like Rick Stein to Alice Levine. The quaint eatery even hosted the global elite during the 2021 G7 Summit.
Dawn also previously shared a charming photo of herself and her pooch during a misty stroll on Par Beach in 2017.
Recognising the scenic spot, St Austell locals were quick to spot their favourite beach in Dawns post, which sparked conversations within the Friends of Par Beach Facebook group.
And Dawn French certainly knows how to capture attention with her wit, as evident in a 2019 tweet where she sardonically celebrated her life in Cornwall with a picture of her dog set against a stunning coastal backdrop, drolly captioned: “Cornwall. Ghastly.”
The average price of a home in Cornwall is £299,000 in 2024, accoridng to the Office for National Statistics.
