Donna Air

Biography

Donna Air is an English actress, TV presenter & media person. Donna is known for playing Charlie Charlton in Byker Grove(1992), Fi Hansen in The Split(2020), Abby Barrett in Bad Day(2008) among others.

Parents

Donna's mother Marie Lackenby was a receptionist while her father Trevor Air was a mechanical engineer.

Siblings

Donna has two younger siblings:

• Francesca Air
• Alexander Air

Education

• Primary School: She attended the "St Oswald's Catholic Primary School" in Gosforth for her primary education
• High School: Donna attended "Sacred Heart Convent School" located on Fenham Hall Drive in Newcastle upon Tyne for her high school education. It is a private high school for girls aged between 11 and 18. Actress Aimee Kelly and Labour MP Catherine McKinnell are among the famous alumni of the school.
• Gosforth Academy: She attended the high school located in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. Artist Noel Forster, businesswoman Carol Galley, composer Robert Sherlaw Johnsonreality TV star Michelle Bass, footballer Michael Chopra are among the alumni of the high school.
• First Act Theatre: She attended the youth theatre school 'First Act Theatre' after her schooling, Jill Halfpenny & Anthony McPartlin were her colleagues at the school.

Donna completed her GCSEs in 1996.

Boyfriend- Dating

Donna Air & Ben Carrington

Donna dated property developer Ben Carrington soon after breaking up with long-term boyfriend James Middleton, The two dated for 18 months from 2018 to August 2019. Ben was 5 years younger to Donna.

[ Donna Air & Ben Carrington ]

Donna Air & James Middleton

Donna started dating Entrepreneur James Middleton in 2013. James Middleton is the brother of Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. The two separated in 2018 after dating for five years.

[ Donna Air & James Middleton ]

Donna Air & Damian Aspinall

Donna met millionaire businessman and conservationist Damian Aspinall in 2000 through their mutual friend Tata Palmer-Tomkinson. The two had a long relationship lasting for seven years, till their amicable separation in 2007.

[ Donna Air & Damian Aspinall]

Daughter- Freya Aspinall

Donna gave birth to her daughter Freya Air Aspinall on 22nd September 2003 in London at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital. Damian Aspinall is the father of the child.

The Aspinall family has a tradition of leaving the new baby in the care of the Gorilla, and the tradition was followed for Freya too.

[ Donna Air with daughter Freya Air Aspinall ]

Facts and Trivia

• In March 2012, Air was acquitted of a charge of getting a parking permit by false representation; the case was heard at Isleworth Crown Court.
• The beginning: Donna was 10 years old when she first started acting, TV series "Byker Grove" is her first project in acting.
• iCandy bags: She loves bags from the iCandy brand.
• Retail business: She has set up a retail business of her own.
• Donna plays Donna: In the movie The One and Only(2002) Donna plays the character "Donna".
• Acupuncture: She has achieved numerous benefits from acupuncture practice. She thinks that Brits should try the service from the British Acupuncture Council.
• She was prevented from doing a headbanger stunt once because she was too tall for the stunt.
• Ice Skating enthusiast: She likes ice skating and she has done many performances in ice skating. She has been a judge in one of the ice-skating shows on ITV England.
• Commercials:
  • Asda Stores (British supermarket retailers) [1]
  • Downy/ Lenor (An American fabric softener brand) [1]
  • Nissan (Japanese automobiles) [1]
  • Samsung TV commercial: Donna has appeared in a 2008 TV commercial. [2]
• Lego Legs: She is fondly nicknamed "Lego Legs". [2]
• "The Corrs" Blooper: She once asked the Celtic pop band "The Corrs" members (Andrea Jane Corr, Sharon Helga Corr, Caroline Georgina Corr, James Steven Corr) on Live TV as to 'How they met each other', The thing is, they are all siblings :)
• She is a fashion enthusiast, and a Stylist as well.

Donna Air look-alike

Donna has been compared to actress Nicole Kidman. Donna used to be tall and lanky, but as of late Donna has gained some pounds on her skinny modelesque figure, she looks deliciously healthy. Though figures are different for Donna & Nicole facial resemblances are uncanny.

[ Donna Air (left) & Nicole Kidman ]

Philanthropy

Donna has been involved with various charities and philanthropic organizations. She has been either physically involved with or been promoting these organizations through social media and TV:

• Macmillan Cancer Support: "Macmillan Cancer Support" is a non-profit organization that provides physical, mental & financial support to cancer patients, with the motto "Whatever cancer throws your way, we're right there with you"
• Race for Life: A cancer research center in the UK which also raises money for research. They work with the motto "WE DON'T BREAK RECORDS. WE BEAT CANCER"
• Sport Relief: Sport Relief is a sister organization of "Comic Relief", The aim of this UK based organization is to support people living tough lives, they have been helping people with mental health issues, homelessness problems, domestic abuses & struggling children.
• Jeans for Genes charities: "Jeans for Genes charities" conducts an annual fundraising campaign for Genetic Disorders in the United Kingdom, the organization especially deals with the children having genetically disorders.

Career

• Select MTV: After completing her tour of the United States & Japan with her band "Crush" in September 1997, she signed a contract with MTV UK to be a presenter on select MTV. She departed the channel in April 2000.

As presenter

As Contestant

Filmography

Movies List

TV series List

Short movies List

Music

Byker Groove!

Donna, with her co-stars from the TV series "Byker Grove"- Jayni Hoy and Vicky Taylor formed a musical band named "Byker Groove!" (inspired by the name of the series that united them), the band released the single "Love Your Sexy" in 1994, it reached the peak ranking of 48 on the UK singles chart.

Crush

Donna was part of the musical band "Crush" along with Jayni Hoy (after the dissolution of Byker Groove!). The band had 2 popular songs in the Top 100 list, they also had completed a tour of United States, Japan & South East Asia before splitting. [2]

Singles

Albums

News & Updates

• In November 2017, she made public on Loose Women that she would be participating in the 10th series of Dancing on Ice.
• She came fourth in the ITV program, (celebrity) Splash! She had replaced Jennifer Metcalfe at a short notice. This was in January 2013.
• Magazine covers:
  • Donna has appeared on the cover page of FHM magazine (Great Britain) in February 2001 (issue 133)
  • She has appeared on the cover of Sky magazine (Great Britain) in July 1999 (issue 155)
• Articles, Pictorials & interviews:
  • March 27, 2003: She was interviewed by Nick Curtis for "Evening Standard", the interview was published with the title "More babies? Knock 'em out then go back to work" on page 21,22
  • November 2002: "Maxim" magazine published a pictorial of Donna on pages 130-138, it was covered by Tim Bret-Day, and published with the title "Double Vision"
  • June 2002: An article titled "Babe Of the Month: Donna Air" was published on page 31 of the magazine (volume 49, issue 6)
  • February 2001: An interview and pictorial was published on FHM magazine on pages 130-136 (issue 133)

Quotes

• My bum's okay. I'm enjoying having a little bum now. A few years on, I'll enjoy having a bigger bum too [2]

Sources

1. Donna Air Wiki
2. Donna Air IMDB
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