Though she’s a multi-talented actress, television presenter and singer, Dani Harmer will forever be known as the face of Tracy Beaker in iconic BBC children’s TV series The Story of Tracy Beaker, a role for which she won the 2010 Children’s BAFTA for Best Drama.
Harmer made her acting debut on the West End stage as part of The Who’s Tommy, a rock musical based on The Who’s 1969 rock opera – this led to invites to appear in several pantomimes including Snow White, Peter Pan and Dick Whittingham. Her big break came after landing the title role in CBBC’s comedy-drama The Story of Tracy Beaker, a much-loved series which ran for five seasons and even spawned a feature-length film, Tracy Beaker’s Movie of Me.
The massive success of Tracy Beaker led to a £3 million record deal and a hit single, 2009’s ‘Free’, though Harmer ultimately chose to focus on her acting career, appearing in such titles as Trial & Retribution, My Family, Pine in the Sky, The 10th Kingdom, Beast and Coming of Age. After starring in her own CBBC sitcom, Dani’s House, she was asked to take a central part in the BBC comedy After You’ve Gone. Harmer has also competed in Strictly Come Dancing, reaching the grand final and finishing in fourth place alongside partner Vincent Simone.
