Dawn French, 66, and her rarely seen daughter Billie Henry, 33, hail a taxi after shopping spree in central London

Dawn French was spotted out and about with her rarely seen daughter Billie Henry in central London on Tuesday following a shopping spree.

The comedian, 66, was joined by Billie, 33, as they hailed a black cab after picking up some items at luxury department store, Liberty.

Billie, who she adopted with her ex-husband Sir Lenny Henry in 1991, was dressed in a pretty floral summer dress with a pair of flip flops.

Meanwhile, Dawn wore a long colourful top with a pair of white trousers and black and white trainers, with a pair of stylish shades. 

French, 62, went public about her difficult relationship with her daughter in 2017, saying they were in a ‘warring’ mother and daughter relationship. 

Dawn French was spotted out and about with her rarely seen daughter Billie Henry in central London on Tuesday following a shopping spree

The comedian, 66, was joined by Billie, 33, as they hailed a black cab after picking up some items at luxury department store, Liberty

The comedian, 66, was joined by Billie, 33, as they hailed a black cab after picking up some items at luxury department store, Liberty

Meanwhile, Dawn wore a long colourful top with a pair of white trousers and black and white trainers, with a pair of stylish shades

Meanwhile, Dawn wore a long colourful top with a pair of white trousers and black and white trainers, with a pair of stylish shades

Billie, who she adopted with her ex-husband Sir Lenny Henry, was dressed in a pretty floral summer dress with a pair of flip flops

Billie, who she adopted with her ex-husband Sir Lenny Henry, was dressed in a pretty floral summer dress with a pair of flip flops

Billie, who she adopted with her ex-husband Sir Lenny Henry, was dressed in a pretty floral summer dress with a pair of flip flops

The comedy actress said she hoped her daughter would ‘get to the other side’ of their relationship, after years of difficulty.

In an interview two years ago she said: ‘I expected that if you nurture [a child], like a tomato plant, it grows towards the light, and surely if your mum is someone who wants to have fun with you and have adventures and read with you and spend time with you, how could you ever have a war?

‘But I haven’t got a kid who wants to read with me and have adventures with me, I’ve got a different kind of kid who’s a different kind of set of challenges and that’s been my lesson.

‘Our relationship exists in a bizarre kind of process of peacetime, small battles, war.

‘The peacetime is much more than the other two energies, but we have our wars.’

In May 2020, Billie was given an eight-month jail term, suspended for 12 months, for harassing her ex-boyfriend.

Billie was also given a five year restraining order stopping her from contacting the victim. 

She had pleaded guilty to malicious communication at at a previous hearing at Truro Crown Court after denying a charge of controlling or coercive behaviour.

 

French, 62, went public about her difficult relationship with her daughter in 2017, saying they were in a 'warring' mother and daughter relationship

French, 62, went public about her difficult relationship with her daughter in 2017, saying they were in a ‘warring’ mother and daughter relationship

The comedy actress said she hoped her daughter would 'get to the other side' of their relationship, after years of difficulty

The comedy actress said she hoped her daughter would ‘get to the other side’ of their relationship, after years of difficulty

Dawn has been sporting her natural grey locks in recent years

Dawn has been sporting her natural grey locks in recent years

The offences took place over five months in Dobwalls, Cornwall, between 2018 and 2019.

Later that year, Dawn spoke candidly about her blended family and revealed that she is ‘ready’ to become a grandmother.

Dawn also stepmother to her husband Mark Bignell’s two children Lily, 33, and Olly, 30.  

She told The Mirror: ‘Family is everything to me. That’s where I know I belong.’

She added: ‘I am a mother to three kids who are not kids any more and that is my greatest challenge and also my greatest pleasure.’ 

Revealing that she calls her brood her ‘beloveds’, Dawn went on to say that she’s excited to become a grandmother one day when her children are ready.

She said: ‘I am ready! I’m a grandmother-in-waiting. I’m not pushing, but I’m ready when my kids are ready. I’m going to look forward to that.’ 

However the comedian did cheekily add that she may have to intervene if her future grandchildren come up with a funny nickname for her such as ‘smelly’.

Both mother and daughter were sporting carrier bags in their hands

Both mother and daughter were sporting carrier bags in their hands

They were seen getting into a taxi on the street

They were seen getting into a taxi on the street

They strolled across the road to the car

They strolled across the road to the car

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk