Biography
Who is Joanna Lumley?
Early life and background
Joanna Lumley Lamond Lumley was born on May 1, 1946, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, in British India. Her mother, Thyra Beatrice Rose Weir, was English, and her father, Major James Rutherford Lumley, served as an officer in the British Indian Army. Her family travelled back to England in 1954 on the HMT Empire Windrush, after which she attended boarding schools including Mickledene School in Rolvenden, Kent, and Holmhurst St Mary's Convent School.
She later attended the Lucie Clayton Finishing School in London after not being accepted by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the age of sixteen. Before beginning her acting career, she worked as a photographic and house model, including working for Brian Duffy and Jean Muir.
Acting career highlights
Joanna began her acting career with uncredited film roles and small television appearances in the late 1960s, including playing a Bond girl in On Her Majesty's Secret Service. She gained her first major television role as Purdey in The New Avengers, appearing in all twenty-six episodes from 1976 to 1977. Shortly after, she starred as the mysterious elemental being Sapphire in the science fiction television series Sapphire & Steel alongside David McCallum.
Her career reached new heights when she portrayed the louche and selfish fashion director Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous alongside Jennifer Saunders. The series ran across multiple decades, and she later reprised the famous role in the 2016 feature film adaptation. Throughout her decades on screen, she has also appeared in prominent projects such as Coronation Street, Jam & Jerusalem, Sensitive Skin, and the Martin Scorsese crime drama The Wolf of Wall Street.
Stage work and accolades
In addition to her extensive television and film credits, Joanna has performed on stage in major theatre productions. She starred in David Hirson's play La Bête at the Comedy Theatre in London and later on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in New York. Her performance in the production earned her a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
Over the years, she has received numerous honours and awards for her contributions to the entertainment industry and charitable causes. She was awarded the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards and received the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship award. In recognition of her services to drama, entertainment, and charity, she was made a dame in the New Year Honours.
Activism and personal life
Outside of her acting work, Joanna is a dedicated human rights activist and patron of various charitable organisations. She has worked closely with Survival International and campaigned actively for the Gurkha Justice Campaign. She also lends her support to animal welfare groups, including Compassion in World Farming and Vegetarians' International Voice for Animals.
In her personal life, she has been married to Jeremy Lloyd and Stephen Barlow, and she has one child named James Aenas Lumley. Known for having one of the most recognisable voices in the United Kingdom, she has also lent her voice to commercial projects and automated greeting systems.
Birthday and age
Joanna Lumley was born on May 1, 1946, which makes Joanna 80 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Joanna shares the date with 32 other famous people.
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