Dame Donna Langley-Shamshiri DBE (born 1968 in London, UK)[1][2] is a British film executive who is Chairman of Universal Pictures and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Chief Content Officer.[3][4] She was profiled in Variety's "Power of Women" issue in 2014.[5]

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.[6]

In her time at Universal, Langley has overseen the films Fast & Furious, Despicable Me, and Bourne.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[7] 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.[8]

Throughout her career, she has supported mentorship opportunities for women.[10] Langley helped launch The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Film Mentorship program.[11] She also serves as an ambassador and board member for the nonprofit Vital Voices.[12]

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.[13][14]

Personal life

Langley was adopted, and was brought up on the Isle of Wight.[2] She was a pupil at Kent College in Canterbury.[15] She is married with two children, and lives in Los Angeles with her family.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ Donna Langley. In: bfi.org.uk, Access date October 10, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ Jordyn Holman (7 October 2014). "Donna Langley Provides Resources and Mentorship to Women in Vital Voices Program". Variety. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  6. ^ Alexandra Cheney (26 January 2014). "Donna Langley's Star Rises With Enlarged Role at Universal Pictures". Variety. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  7. ^ a b Ramsay, Derek (7 October 2017). "Donna Langley". Variety. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  8. ^ a b Donnelly, Matt; Brent Lang (6 July 2023). "What Donna Langley's Promotion Means for the Future of NBCUniversal". Variety. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  9. ^ Lee, Chris (24 July 2023). "I am Become Barbenheimer, Destroyer of Box Office Records". Vulture. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b Forbes, Moira (20 December 2018). "Movie Mogul Donna Langley On Breaking Barriers And Box Office Records". Forbes. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Donna Langley". Global Ambassadors. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  12. ^ "Donna Langley". Vital Voices. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  13. ^ "No. 62866". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N23.
  14. ^ Ritman, Alex (13 July 2022). "Universal Boss Donna Langley Made a Dame by Prince Charles". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  15. ^ "Variety500". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2023.

External links

External videos
video icon Donna Langley - Chairman of Universal Pictures interviewed by Madison Moellers, February 19, 2014
video icon Making it as a female movie mogul in Hollywood, Felicia Taylor, CNN, October 9, 2012


Authority control databases
Producers Guild of America Milestone Award
Categories