Donna Langley

Last updated
Donna Langley
BornMarch 1968
London, UK
OccupationFilm executive
Title Chairwoman of Universal Filmed Entertainment Group
PartnerRamin Shamshiri
Children2

Dame Donna Langley-Shamshiri DBE (born 1968 in London, UK) [1] [2] is a British film executive who is Chairwoman of Universal Studios and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Chief Content Officer. [3] [4]

Contents

Career

Langley began her career as a production executive at New Line Cinema. In 2001, she became senior vice president of production at Universal Pictures. [5]

In her time at Universal, Langley has overseen the film franchises Fast & Furious , Despicable Me , and Bourne . [6] She is known for cultivating strong relationships with filmmakers and writers. Langley backed Jordan Peele's directorial debut, Get Out , and his follow ups, Us and Nope . [7] Langley was also credited with recruiting director Christopher Nolan to Universal from Warner Bros. His movie Oppenheimer was added to a streak of successes for Langley in 2023, after M3GAN , Cocaine Bear , and The Super Mario Bros. Movie . [8]

Her work includes overseeing the global specialty division, Focus Features, as well as Illumination and DreamWorks Animation, the latter being acquired by Universal in 2016. [6] Langley's role was expanded in 2023; as Chief Content Officer, she is not only responsible for overseeing Universal's film slate, but also the company's TV and streaming strategy. [7]

Throughout her career, she has supported mentorship opportunities for women. [9] Langley helped launch The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Film Mentorship program. [10] She also serves as an ambassador and board member for the nonprofit Vital Voices. [11]

Langley was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to film and entertainment. [12] [13]

Recognition

Forbes ranked her as the 57th most powerful woman in the world in 2023. [14]

Personal life

Langley was adopted, and was brought up on the Isle of Wight. [2] She attended Carisbrooke College, and was a pupil at Kent College in Canterbury. [15] She is married with two children, and lives in Los Angeles with her family. [9] [10]

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References

  1. ↑ Donna Langley . In: bfi.org.uk, Access date October 10, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Dame Donna Langley, film studio executive". BBC. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Donna Langley". Forbes.
  4. ↑ "Universal's Donna Langley Unveils Executive Team". The Hollywood Reporter. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  5. ↑ Alexandra Cheney (26 January 2014). "Donna Langley's Star Rises With Enlarged Role at Universal Pictures". Variety. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 Ramsay, Derek (7 October 2017). "Donna Langley". Variety. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  7. 1 2 Donnelly, Matt; Brent Lang (6 July 2023). "What Donna Langley's Promotion Means for the Future of NBCUniversal". Variety. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  8. ↑ Lee, Chris (24 July 2023). "I am Become Barbenheimer, Destroyer of Box Office Records". Vulture. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  9. 1 2 Forbes, Moira (20 December 2018). "Movie Mogul Donna Langley On Breaking Barriers And Box Office Records". Forbes. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Donna Langley". Global Ambassadors. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  11. ↑ "Donna Langley". Vital Voices. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  12. ↑ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N23.
  13. ↑ Ritman, Alex (13 July 2022). "Universal Boss Donna Langley Made a Dame by Prince Charles". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "The World's Most Powerful Women 2023". Forbes.
  15. ↑ "Variety500". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Donna Langley - Chairman of Universal Pictures interviewed by Madison Moellers, February 19, 2014
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Making it as a female movie mogul in Hollywood, Felicia Taylor, CNN, October 9, 2012


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