Dawn French celebrates the ‘abundant beauty' of life out of London

(Image credit: David M. Benett)

published 1 June 2020

Dawn French is using her time in lockdown to be grateful for her beautiful home in Cornwall, 14 years after leaving London.

The comedian took to Twitter over the weekend to celebrate the "abundant beauty" of the place she calls home.

Alongside some glorious flowers and her dog, Dawn took a moment to be thankful and wrote, "Abundant beauty. @TheFlowerFarmer #goodie."

It's not the first time Dawn has shared her gratitude for Cornwall, as the 62-year-old recently confessed she’s ready to enjoy her “autumn” years.

And Dawn’s desire to slow down and appreciate the small things is certainly reflected in her social media posts.

After years of gruelling TV schedules filming The Vicar of Dibley and French and Saunders, Dawn’s priorities have changed in life and the comedy actress now craves the “quiet” life.

“I am enjoying the place I’m in,” she said two years ago. “I realise I’m right there in autumn and I can’t see the point in resisting it. This is what 60 looks like.”

Dawn felt “broken” following the breakdown of her 25-year marriage to Lenny Henry ten years ago and recently said she still “grieves” for their marriage.

“I have mended myself. I have seen what happens if you stay broken. When I was single I found my new self. But I think it is OK to grieve over a relationship.”

Dawn has since re-married to Mark Bignell, 54, and the pair live in Cornwall so she can be close to where her family once lived.

“I find quiet there. I have been noisy all my life and loved it but essentially I am a quiet person,” she admitted.

“I’ve gone back to where my family are. The sense of my mum is there and that is home for me.”

Citing her reasons behind the decision to leave London in 2006, she told Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast she found city life “overwhelming”.

There always seemed too much to do in London for Dawn. “I find the clutter of it overwhelming. I think I’m not meant for a city… that isn’t the real me. The real me is quiet.”

Whereas in Cornwall, Dawn feels calm. “There is, without a doubt, beauty here. I can do nothing but connect with that.

“It makes me calm, it makes me happier and it sort of enthuses my mind with better ways of thinking.”.”

Georgia writes across Woman & Home and Good to Know and specialises in all things royal. Previously labelled the "Queen of the royals," Georgia knows the whose who and what's what when it comes to the monarchy. When she's not eagerly following the royal family, Georgia enjoys shopping and self-care. She lives with this motto in mind; "if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough."