Dame Donna Langley-Shamshiri (born 1968 on the Isle of Wight, UK) is a British film executive who is Chairwoman of

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

. She was profiled in ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

''s "Power of Women" issue in 2014.

Career

Langley began her career as a production executive at

New Line Cinema New Line Cinema is an American film production studio owned by Warner Bros. Discovery and is a film label of Warner Bros. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye as an independent film distribution company; later becoming a film studio after ...

. In 2001, she became senior VP of production at Universal Pictures. In her time at Universal, Langley has overseen such film franchises as ''

Fast & Furious ''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, ...

'' as well as '' Despicable Me'' and the ''Bourne'' movies. Her work also includes overseeing the global specialty division, Focus Features, as well as DreamWorks Animation, acquired by Universal in 2016. Throughout her career, she has supported mentorship opportunities for women. Langley helped launch The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Film Mentorship program. She also serves as an ambassador and board member for the nonprofit

Vital Voices Vital Voices Global Partnership is an American international, 501(c)(3), non-profit, non-governmental organization that works with women leaders in the areas of economic empowerment, women's political participation, and human rights. The organiz ...

. 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.

Personal life

Langley is married with two children, and lives in Los Angeles with her family.

References

External links

Donna Langley
on universalpictures.com * * 1968 births 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century American businesswomen 21st-century American businesspeople 21st-century American businesswomen American chairpersons of corporations American film studio executives American women business executives British businesspeople British emigrants to the United States Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Living people NBCUniversal people Universal Pictures {{US-film-bio-stub Women in Entertainment Power 100