Dana Fowley

by Linda Watson-Brown - 12:04 on 28 January 2010

I've just, by accident, seen an interview with Dana Fowley on This Morning.  Dana was subjected to the most horrendous sexual abuse from the age of five, from her mother, stepfather, grandfather and a host of others.  She has written her book (I'm not connected with it in any way) and is currently on the publicity trail.

When people take the step of going public with what they have experienced, in terms of publishing their story, the publicity side is one which I'm sure they don't really consider - but it is an intrinsic part of the whole process and publishers need a commitment from the individual to do it (they don't publish the books out of the goodness of their hearts after all).  However, I think this must be one of the hardest parts of all.  The inane questioning, the constant rehashing of the story, the prurience masquerading as concern - all hideous, but all necessary.

Dana came across as a very brave and composed woman, as you might expect, but it still felt almost wrong, to me, to be watching and listening to the soundbites of her life.  This is odd, given that I'm involved in this 'business' too, and I wonder whether I have any right to feel that way - I've had these talks with myself before, and the conclusion I always come to still stands: everyone owns their own story, some are braver than others in telling them, and the respect I have for everyone who does is undiminished.  Donna Ford, who I worked with on The Step Child  and What Daddy Did has just finished filming with Lorraine Kelly for a Sky and ITV programme which looks at her experience, and she too is a remarkable person who has come through the most appalling history.  Yet, despite what she has achieved, I know that she has also found the last few days very hard as she is asked, yet again, to go over the most painful moments of her life.

These women, and countless other individuals, are an inspiration.  As I watched Dana Fowley, I was struck by her composure and sense of self, and a feeling that she knew exactly what was being asked of her in the media circus, and that she probably sees it as just another step in her journey.  She deserves the support of everyone - I hope she has good people around her.

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