Dani Behr - Biography

Dani Behr (born 9 July 1974) is an English singer, actress and television presenter.

Early life

Behr was born in Mill Hill London, of South African Jewish descent. Her father is a partner in London estate agents Behr & Butchoff. Dani Behr is a graduate of the Sylvia Young Theatre School, and was discovered by Pet Shop Boys manager Tom Watkins, who put her in his female Bros concept, Faith Hope & Charity singing alongside Diana Barrand and future Xpansions star Sally Ann Marsh, signed to the WEA record company. However the band was not successful and Behr moved into television production.

Career

In 1989, Dani Behr had a cameo appearance in Grange Hill and then later was a presenter on the late night Channel 4 music show, The Word, for three years. She went on to feature in over 30 TV shows, including The Big Breakfast, Hotel Babylon, Ice Warriors; and in 2002 the co-presenting role alongside Joe Mace on the first series of the BBC's flagship children's program The Saturday Show. She also provided the voice for the onboard ship's computer (coincidentally) named Dani in the computer game "Privateer 2".

After numerous presenting jobs for shows in the United States, Behr decided to move permanently to Hollywood to begin presenting Extra for NBC. She went on to host several more shows for Fox, NBC/Bravo, VH1, with her biggest hit so far being the 2003 reality show Boy Meets Boy. In between TV, Behr has also presented radio shows for Kiss_100, and has had some minor film acting roles and appeared alongside Kate Winslet, Oprah Winfrey, Glenn Close in the play The Vagina Monologues both in London at The Old Vic and on Broadway at Madison Square Garden.

Behr was Maxim's female presenter of the year in 2002. Until June 2007 she voiced the safety message on Virgin Atlantic.

After marriage and the birth of her two children, Behr attempted a UK television comeback on the 2008 edition of ITV's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! where she was second voted out by the public, on day 12.

On 20 September, 2009 Behr appeared in a new series of the Channel 4 programme Come Dine with Me. This was a celebrity episode in which she appeared with EastEnders actress Laila Morse who plays the part of Big Mo, DJ Dane Bowers and comedian Bobby Davro. Behr came last in the competition (due to ill health she was unable to cook her recipe and had to ask her brother to prepare and serve the food) with first prize (£1,000 given to charity) being awarded to Bowers.

Personal life

Behr has dated several high-profile people including footballers Les Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and also pop star Jason 'J' Brown from boy band '5ive'. These relationships were well publicised by the tabloids.

Behr married American restaurateur (Founder of Kauai Juice, South Africa) and surfer Carl Harwin in Malibu, California, on 5 May 2005 - with pictures of the wedding featured in Hello! magazine. Their daughter, Coco, was born in December 2005. They moved to Sydney, Australia, where on 19 April 2007, their son, Zane Max Harwin, was born.

Filmography

• 1989 - The Rainbow (film) Directed by Ken Russell, Behr played a school girl
• 1997 - Bolt Directed by David Caffey, herself
• 1998 - Ice Warriors, presenter
• 1998 - Like It Is Directed by Paul Oremland, playing "Paula". A gay-themed indie film co-starring Roger Daltrey
• 1999 - Dark Realm for Warner Brothers
• 2001 - Rancid Aluminum Directed by Ed Thomas, playing Charlie. Co-starring with Joseph Fiennes and Rhys Ifans
• 2001 - Goodbye Charlie Bright directed by Nick Love, playing a blonde. Co-starring with Paul Nicholls
• 2002 - Tabloid a made for TV special, playing a TV presenter
• 2008 - I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here! (Series 8 UK) as herself

External links

• Dani Behr's official website