Dame Donna Langley-Shamshiri DBE (born 1968 in London, UK)[1][2] is a British film executive who is Chairman of Universal Studios and Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Chief Content Officer.[3][4]
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 films 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]
Langley was adopted, and was brought up on the Isle of Wight[2]and attended Carisbrooke College. She was a pupil at Kent CollegeinCanterbury.[14] She is married with two children, and lives in Los Angeles with her family.[9][10]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Donna Langley - Chairman of Universal Pictures interviewed by Madison Moellers, February 19, 2014 | |
| Making it as a female movie mogul in Hollywood, Felicia Taylor, CNN, October 9, 2012 |
| International |
|
|---|---|
| National |
|
|
| |
|---|---|
|
 | This biographical article related to cinema of the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
