Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lumley | |
|---|---|
| File:Joanna Lumley 2014.jpg Lumley in 2014 | |
| Born | Joanna Lamond Lumley May 1, 1946 Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, presenter, author, television producer, activist, former model |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Known for | Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous; Purdey in The New Avengers; Sapphire in Sapphire & Steel |
Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley (born 1 May 1946) is a British actress, presenter, author, television producer, activist, and former model originally born in India. She earned two BAFTA TV Awards for portraying Patsy Stone in the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012) and received a nomination for the 2011 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in the Broadway revival of La Bête. In 2013, she was honoured with the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards, followed by the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship in 2017.
Lumley’s television work encompasses appearances in The New Avengers (1976–1977), Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982), Sensitive Skin (2005–2007), Jam & Jerusalem (2006–2008), and the ongoing series Finding Alice (2021–present). In 1973, she featured as Elaine Perkins on Coronation Street. Her filmography includes titles such as On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), Shirley Valentine (1989), James and the Giant Peach (1996), Ella Enchanted (2004), Corpse Bride (2005), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), and Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016). Additionally, she appeared in two episodes of the sitcom Are You Being Served? (1973–1975), which was penned by Jeremy Lloyd, whom she later married and divorced.
A committed human rights campaigner, Lumley supports organisations such as Survival International, the Gurkha Justice Campaign, alongside animal welfare groups including Compassion in World Farming and Vegetarians' International Voice for Animals. She was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) during the 2022 New Year Honours in recognition of her contributions to drama, entertainment, and charitable causes.
Early life
Joanna Lamond Lumley entered the world on 1 May 1946 in Srinagar, located within Jammu and Kashmir, then part of British India. Her mother, Thyra Beatrice Rose (née Weir), was English by heritage. Joanna’s grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Weir, born in Ghazipur, served as an army officer stationed in Kashmir and maintained a close friendship with the 13th Dalai Lama.
Her father, Major James Rutherford Lumley, who hailed from Lahore—present-day Pakistan—was of Scottish and English descent. He traced his lineage to Maj.-Gen. Sir James Rutherford Lumley and served with distinction in the British Indian Army, specifically within the 6th Queen Elizabeth's Own Gurkha Rifles, during World War II. His service included participation in the Battle of Mogaung, where his life was saved by soldier Tul Bahadur Pun. Maj.-Gen. Sir James Rutherford Lumley also descended from Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots.
The couple married in 1941. During a leave period, the family traveled to England aboard the . While her parents returned to Asia after their leave, Joanna stayed behind in England. At eight years old, she began attending Mickledene School in Rolvenden, Kent. From ages eleven to seventeen, she was educated at Holmhurst St Mary's Convent School, managed by the Community of the Holy Family, where she studied alongside approximately seventy boarders.
After being turned down by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at sixteen, Lumley enrolled at London’s Lucie Clayton Charm Academy.
Career
Lumley dedicated three years to photographic modeling, notably collaborating with Brian Duffy, who captured images of her alongside her son born in 1967. That same year, she appeared on the BBC2 programme The Impresarios: For Appearance's Sake. She also served as a house model for Jean Muir. Decades later, over forty years on, she reunited with Duffy for a retrospective photoshoot that again featured her and her son.
In 1966, Lumley made an appearance on an early episode of the Bruce Forsyth Show and was featured in a British TV commercial for Nimble Bread, first broadcast in 1969.
Although she did not receive formal acting training, Lumley’s screen career began in 1969 with a minor, uncredited role in Some Girls Do. Shortly thereafter, she played a brief part as one of villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld’s "Angels of Death" in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. She gained wider recognition portraying Elaine Perkins in Coronation Street, where her character famously rejected Ken Barlow’s marriage proposal. Lumley also made appearances in well-known television series including Are You Being Served?, Steptoe and Son, and The Protectors.
Her film credits include playing Jessica Van Helsing in the 1973 Hammer horror film The Satanic Rites of Dracula, which was the final Dracula installment starring Christopher Lee, as well as a role in the 1974 comedy Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! alongside Leslie Phillips and Joan Sims.
Major roles
Lumley has often been cast in roles representing the upper class, capitalizing on her unique voice and accent. Her significant breakthrough came with the character Purdey in The New Avengers, where she appeared throughout all 26 episodes from 1976 to 1977.
In 1979, she took on the lead role of "Sapphire" in the cult television series Sapphire & Steel, acting alongside David McCallum. Her character was an elemental entity tasked with resolving disturbances in time. Notably, television producer Sydney Newman suggested Lumley for the role of the Doctor in 1986; however, this proposal was ultimately not pursued.
Lumley's prominence grew significantly through her portrayal of Patsy Stone, the extravagant fashion editor in the BBC comedy series Absolutely Fabulous (1992–1996, 2001–2004, 2011–2012), which later inspired a film adaptation released in 2016.
From 1994 to 1995, she starred as Kate Swift in Class Act, portraying an aristocratic woman confronting financial difficulties.
Additional noteworthy performances include appearances in Lovejoy, the 1996 film In the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon—which depicts her grandparents' experiences in Bhutan—and A Rather English Marriage (1999), for which she received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress. Lumley also lent her voice to animated productions such as The Forgotten Toys (1995) and the BAFTA-winning series Foxbusters (1999). In 2000, she co-produced the drama series The Cazalets and featured in a television documentary about Sarawak that reflected aspects of her childhood.
In 2006, Lumley portrayed Delilah Stagg in the sitcom Jam & Jerusalem and took on the role of Davina Jackson during the second and final season of Sensitive Skin (2007).
Her film work includes collaborations with director Tim Burton on James and the Giant Peach (1996) and Corpse Bride (2005), sharing screen time with Hugh Laurie in Maybe Baby (2000), and acting alongside Anne Hathaway in Ella Enchanted (2004). Lumley portrayed Mrs. Dolly Bantry twice within the series Agatha Christie's Marple and appeared in a guest storyline on BBC’s drama series Mistresses (2010). In 2013, she featured in Martin Scorsese’s crime drama film The Wolf of Wall Street.
On stage, Lumley starred in David Hirson’s play La Bête at London’s Comedy Theatre from June to August 2010, performing alongside David Hyde Pierce and Mark Rylance under Matthew Warchus’s direction. The production later transferred to Broadway’s Music Box Theatre within the same year. Her performance earned her a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.
Media work
Lumley, recognized for her uniquely British vocal style, rose to fame as a voice-over artist, notably providing recorded greetings for AOL UK. Between 2004 and 2006, she featured in commercials for the insurance intermediary Privilege.
In 2007, she appeared as a guest on the concluding episode of ITV's Parkinson and penned the foreword for a new edition of The Magic Key to Charm, a 1938 manual focused on elegance and etiquette for women. Lumley expressed respect for young women while underscoring the necessity of improved manners to achieve success.
In 1999, she portrayed the last incarnation of the Doctor in the Comic Relief parody of Doctor Who titled The Curse of Fatal Death. She also took part in the 2009 Comic Relief spoof of Mamma Mia!, where she played Tanya.
Her voice was featured in the 2004 radio dramatization of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The following year, she released her memoir, No Room for Secrets, which was serialized by The Times.
Lumley’s travel documentaries include Joanna Lumley's Nile (2010), which followed the River Nile from its mouth to its source; Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey (2011); and Joanna Lumley's Ark (2012), an expedition searching for Noah's Ark across three continents including Iran. In 2014, she appeared in BBC One’s Joanna Lumley Meets will.i.am and hosted ITV’s special program Bette Midler: One Night Only.
In 2015, she presented the three-part ITV series Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure, chronicling her 6,400-mile journey from Hong Kong to Moscow via the Trans-Siberian Railway. Subsequent projects included Joanna Lumley's Japan (2016), Joanna Lumley's India (2017), and Joanna Lumley's Silk Road Adventure (2018), which explored eight nations along the historic trade route.
In May 2024, Lumley was named as the spokesperson for the United Kingdom jury during the Eurovision Song Contest final.
Activism
Lumley is widely recognized for her advocacy on behalf of Gurkha veterans, the Tibetan government-in-exile, the indigenous Khonds community in India, and Prospect Burma, a charity supporting Burmese students. Her commitment to these causes is influenced by her family history; her father served as a commander of a Gurkha unit during World War II.
Gurkha Justice Campaign
In 2008, Lumley emerged as the prominent figurehead of the Gurkha Justice Campaign, striving to secure UK settlement rights for all Gurkhas of Nepalese descent who served in the British Army before 1997. While veterans who served after that year were already entitled to residency, those who served earlier were excluded. On 20 November 2008, she led an all-party delegation carrying a petition with 250,000 signatures from Parliament Square to 10 Downing Street.
On 24 April 2009, Lumley publicly criticized government-imposed criteria that restricted Gurkha settlement eligibility. Backed by Opposition members and Labour rebels, a Liberal Democrat motion passed on 29 April granting pre-1997 Gurkhas rights to reside in the UK along with access to housing, social security benefits, and healthcare. Immigration Minister Phil Woolas committed to reviewing these policies by mid-July.
On 5 May 2009, Lumley revealed private encouragement from a senior member of the Royal Family and met with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street. She described their discussion as "extremely positive" and commended Brown's leadership on this issue.
Despite this progress, some Gurkha veterans faced immediate appeal refusals following the meeting—a development seen as a setback. Lumley confronted Woolas publicly; after their exchange, Woolas consented to involve campaign representatives in revising guidelines by July and pledged compassionate treatment for current applicants.
Following talks among campaigners, the Ministry of Defence, and the Home Office on 19 May, it was announced on 21 May that all Gurkha veterans with at least four years’ service before 1997 would be granted settlement rights in the UK.
Lumley’s successful advocacy sparked suggestions that she should stand as a candidate in the 2010 UK general election; she declined and reaffirmed her lack of interest in parliamentary office during an appearance on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 29 May 2009.
In July 2009, Lumley traveled to Nepal where she received a warm welcome from Gurkha supporters and was honored with the title 'Daughter of Nepal', reflecting her deep bond with the community she championed.
Advocacy for Survival International
Lumley has been a longstanding advocate for Survival International and the rights of indigenous peoples, lending her voice as narrator to their documentary, Mine: Story of a Sacred Mountain. This film portrays the Dongria Kondha tribe's struggle against a major bauxite mining operation threatening their ancestral lands in India. She openly condemned the participation of a British corporation in the devastation of this autonomous community and called on the public to back the Dongria's cause. Additionally, Lumley contributed to the 2009 publication We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples, which showcases indigenous cultures and the challenges posed by corporate exploitation, with proceeds benefiting Survival International.
Additional Patronages
Since 1984, Lumley has served as a Patron of the Born Free Foundation, an international wildlife conservation organization established by Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna. Her involvement includes spearheading initiatives such as relocating endangered giraffes in Kenya and narrating the 2020 documentary 'Protect Them, Protect Us', which connects wildlife trafficking to the emergence of COVID-19. Following Bill Travers' passing, Lumley has maintained close ties with Virginia McKenna and Executive President Will Travers.
In May 2016, Lumley took on the role of Patron for Population Matters, promoting awareness around sustainable population growth worldwide.
Her support for Tree Aid dates back to 1993, assisting African communities in dryland regions to alleviate poverty and enhance environmental conditions. She also acts as Patron for the Pastoral and Environmental Network in the Horn of Africa (PENHA), an international NGO dedicated to sustaining pastoral livelihoods in that area.
Other patronages include Kids for Kids, which aids children in Darfur, Sudan; the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust, working to raise £4 million for restoring the Georgian house and gardens that inspired J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan; and Earth Restoration Service, a UK-based environmental charity focused on planting trees and creating wildflower meadows in educational settings. Lumley has actively championed stronger global environmental movements and provided narration for related films.
She also supports Trust in Children, a UK charity committed to offering disadvantaged youth access to education and personal development opportunities.
Lumley's connection to Nepal is rooted in her father's service with the Gurkhas; she became Vice Patron of The Gurkha Welfare Trust in 2009.
London Garden Bridge
In the late 1990s, Lumley initially proposed a garden bridge spanning London's River Thames as a tribute to Princess Diana; however, this early effort did not succeed. In 2002, she presented comprehensive plans developed by engineering firm Arup to then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, but these were declined. After Boris Johnson was re-elected Mayor in 2012, Lumley sent him a congratulatory letter outlining her vision, confident he would support it due to their longstanding acquaintance. She suggested Thomas Heatherwick as the bridge’s designer; despite his lack of experience with large-scale bridges, Heatherwick won Transport for London's design competition—a choice that generated controversy.
The project's financing attracted criticism, including unconventional public funding decisions by then Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. A £10,000 taxpayer-funded trip involving Johnson, Heatherwick, and Sir Edward Lister aimed at securing sponsorship in San Francisco proved unsuccessful. Project costs escalated to £200 million, leading private sponsors to withdraw support.
Opposition from local residents grew due to concerns about nightly closures, removal of 30 mature trees, and privatization of public space. Lumley herself reversed her earlier position on incorporating cycleways into the design. Johnson remained an advocate until his final day as Mayor, attempting last-minute funding solutions to cover a £70 million shortfall.
Following Sadiq Khan’s election in 2016, mayoral backing was withdrawn in August 2017 amid unresolved funding issues and planning complications. By that point, £46.4 million of public money had been expended. A report commissioned by Khan criticized the project’s weak financial justification and flawed procurement process that favored Heatherwick Studio.
Lumley stayed mostly silent until 2017 when she described the cancellation as “absolutely shattering” and expressed regret over prevailing negative sentiment. She asserted that public opinion was largely supportive of the bridge but was ignored. Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch publicly endorsed both Johnson and the Garden Bridge initiative.
Research fellowship
The Lumley Research Fellowship was inaugurated in 1996 at Green College, part of the University of Oxford, with sponsorship from the financial group Friends Provident. This fellowship aims to assist an emerging scholar concentrating on significant environmental or wildlife challenges, particularly within Africa. The selection process involved interviews conducted by Lumley herself.
Influence
In February 2013, Lumley was recognized by BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour as one of the top 100 most influential women in the United Kingdom.
Personal life
Lumley's son, born in 1967, is from her relationship with photographer Michael Claydon. She experienced a brief marriage to actor Jeremy Lloyd between 1970 and 1971 before marrying conductor Stephen Barlow in 1986. The couple currently live in Central London and maintain a residence near Penpont, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
An advocate for numerous causes, Lumley supports more than 60 charities and has adhered to a vegetarian lifestyle for over four decades. Among her philanthropic efforts, she donates to Book Aid International, serves as patron of the Born Free Foundation, and actively promotes the Free Tibet campaign.
During the European Parliament elections in May 2009, Lumley publicly endorsed the Green Party, commending their dedication to human and animal rights. She also advocated for electoral reform during the 2011 Alternative Vote referendum.
In 2010, she contributed £1,000 to Caroline Lucas’s campaign, who aimed to become the Green Party’s first Member of Parliament, and continued her support for Lucas in the 2015 general election.
In August 2015, Lumley lent her support to "GivingTales," a children’s fairytale app benefiting UNICEF, joining other prominent British celebrities.
By July 2021, she had aligned with international actors campaigning for the Great Barrier Reef to be designated as a world heritage site under threat.
Lumley attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2023. That same year, she disclosed her experience living with prosopagnosia, a neurological condition that impairs facial recognition.
Honours
Lumley received the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1995 New Year Honours. Later, in the 2022 New Year Honours, she was elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her contributions to drama, entertainment, and charitable work.
Awards
As a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), Lumley has been honored with an Honorary Doctor of Letters (Hon. D.Litt.) by the University of Kent in 1994. Additionally, she was granted honorary degrees from Oxford Brookes University in 2002 and the University of St Andrews in 2006. In July 2008, Queen's University Belfast awarded her an Honorary Doctor of the University (Hon DUniv). In March 2019, both Lumley and her husband received honorary doctorates from the University of Chester.
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Some Girls Do | Second Robot Saboteur | ||
| On Her Majesty's Secret Service | The English Girl | |||
| 1970 | The Breaking of Bumbo | Susie | ||
| Tam-Lin | Georgia | |||
| 1971 | Games That Lovers Play | Fanny Hill | ||
| The House That Dripped Blood | Film Crew Girl | |||
| 1973 | The Satanic Rites of Dracula | Jessica Van Helsing | ||
| 1974 | Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! | Miss Parkyn | ||
| 1979 | The Plank | Model | ||
| 1982 | Trail of the Pink Panther | Marie Jouvet | ||
| 1983 | Curse of the Pink Panther | Countess Chandra | ||
| 1989 | Shirley Valentine | Marjorie Majors | ||
| 1995 | Innocent Lies | Lady Helena Graves | ||
| Cold Comfort Farm | Mrs. Mary Smiling | |||
| 1996 | James and the Giant Peach | Aunt Spiker | ||
| 1997 | Prince Valiant | Morgan le Fay | ||
| 1999 | Parting Shots | Freda | ||
| Mad Cows | Gillian | |||
| 2000 | Maybe Baby | Sheila | ||
| Whispers: An Elephant's Tale | Half Tusk | Voice role | ||
| 2001 |
Elinor Glyn |
|||
| 2003 |
Standing Room Only |
Last in Line |
Short film | |
| 2004 |
Hostel Clerk |
|||
|
Dame Olga |
||||
| 2005 |
Ermintrude |
Voice roles | ||
|
Maudeline Everglot |
||||
| 2006 |
Madame Muscat |
Short film | ||
| 2009 |
Alfreda Rhinegold |
|||
|
Stella |
Voice role | |||
| 2010 |
Giselle |
|||
| 2011 |
Charlotte |
|||
| 2013 |
Aunt Emma |
|||
| 2014 |
Death Knight Love Story |
Lady Blameaux |
Voice role | |
|
Vivian Claremont |
||||
| 2015 |
Fenella |
|||
| 2016 |
Mary Rawlinson |
|||
| 2017 |
The Man You're Not |
Joanna Lumley |
||
|
Felicity Fanshaw |
||||
|
Jackie |
||||
| 2020 |
Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop |
|||
| 2021 |
Lady Narborough |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Remarks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | The Wednesday Play | Elsie Engelfield | Single episode | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1971 | It's Awfully Bad for Your Eyes, Darling | Samantha Ryder-Ross | Entire 7-episode series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1972 | Steptoe and Son | Bunty | Episode: "Loathe Story" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1973 | Are You Being Served? | Miss French | Episode: "His and Hers" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Protectors | Liz | Episode: "Petard" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coronation Street | Elaine Perkins | Appeared in 8 episodes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1975 | Are You Being Served? | German Lady | Episode: "German Week" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976 | The Cuckoo Waltz | Harriet Paulden | Episode: "Babysitter" | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–1977 | The New Avengers | Purdey | Featured in all 26 episodes Recipient of BAFTA "Special Award" (2000) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979–1982 | Sapphire & Steel | Sapphire | Starred in all 34 episodes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981–1985 | The Kenny Everett Television Show | Various characters | Participated in 5 episodes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983 | The Weather in the Streets | Kate | Television movie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Mistral's Daughter | Lally Longbridge | Miniseries format | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Glory Boys | Helen | Television film production | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oxbridge Blues | Gigi | Episode titled "That Was Tory" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1986 | The Two Ronnies | Miss Dibley | Single episode appearance | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990 | 'A Ghost in Monte Carlo | 'Lady Drayton' | 'Television film' | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'A Perfect Hero | 'Loretta Stone' | 'Miniseries' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'The Full Wax' | ' ' | 'Featured in 4 episodes' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Lovejoy | 'Victoria Cavero' | 'Appeared in 3 episodes' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Absolutely Fabulous | 'Patsy Stone' | 'Appeared in all 39 episodes Received multiple awards including British Comedy Award and BAFTA nominations and wins (1993-2002)' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Cluedo | 'Mrs Peacock' | 'Participated in 6 episodes' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Class Act | 'Kate Swift' | 'Starred throughout all 14 episodes' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'The Forgotten Toys | 'Annie' | 'Voice role; featured in all 26 episodes' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Roseanne | 'Patsy Stone' | 'Episode: "Satan, Darling"' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'The Tale of Sweeney Todd | 'Mrs. Lovett' | 'Television movie' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'A Rather English Marriage | 'Liz Franks' | 'Television film; earned a BAFTA Best Actress nomination' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Coming Home | 'Diana Carey-Lewis' | 'Featured in 2 episodes' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Dr Willoughby | 'Donna Sinclair' | 'Appeared in all 6 episodes' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'The Curse of Fatal Death | 'The Female Doctor' | 'Special for Comic Relief' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Alice in Wonderland | 'Tiger Lily' | 'Television film adaptation' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Nancherrow | 'Diana Carey-Lewis' | 'Miniseries presentation' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Foxbusters | 'Sims' | 'Voice role; featured throughout all 26 episodes' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Mirrorball | 'Jackie Riviera' | 'Pilot episode only' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Up in Town | 'Madison Blakelock' | 'Nominated for British Comedy Award – Best Comedy Actress' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Agatha Christie's Marple | 'Dolly Bantry' | "Appeared in two episodes (The Body in the Library, The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side)" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Sensitive Skin | 'Davina Jackson' | "Featured across all 12 episodes" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Jam & Jerusalem | 'Delilah Stagg' | "Participated in 6 episodes" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 'Lewis | 'Esme Ford' | "Episode titled 'Counter Culture Blues'" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Mistresses" | "Vivienne Roden" | "Appeared in 4 episodes" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uptown Downstairs Abbey" | "Mrs. Danvers / Herself" | "Special for Comic Relief" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Little Crackers" | "Magazine Editor" | "Episode: 'Joanna Lumley's Little Cracker: Baby, Be Blonde'" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The Making of a Lady" | "Lady Maria Byrne" | "Television film production" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Jonathan Creek" | "Rosalind Tartikoff" | "Episode: 'The Clue of the Savant's Thumb'" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Gangsta Granny" | "Queen Elizabeth II" | "Television film" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Carnage" | "Joanna Lumley" | "Mockumentary format" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bodyguard" | "Prime Minister" | "Comic Relief special titled Red Nose Bodyguard" |
- |
2020 |
Narrator |
Episode: "The Brave Little Squire" |
- |
rowspan="2"|2021 |
Sarah |
All six episodes |
- |
rowspan="2"| Motherland |
rowspan="2"| Felicity |
Series three, episode three |
- |
2022 |
Christmas Special appearance |
- |
2023 |
Susie McCallister (aged 97) |
Episodes: "Night Pockets" & "Retrace Our Hooves" |
- |
2024 |
Judith Burkett |
Principal role |
- |
rowspan=2 | 2025 |
Felicity |
Featured in all six episodes |
- |
Grandmama Hester Frump |
Season two; guest star |
Non-acting television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Whodunnit? | Panelist | Television game show |
| 1991 | In Search of the White Rajahs | Herself | Documentary |
| 1994 | Girl Friday | Special appearance | |
| 1997 | Joanna Lumley in the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon | ||
| 2008 | Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights | Documentary | |
| Ian Fleming: Where Bond Began | |||
| 2009 | Joanna Lumley Catwoman | ||
| 2010 | Joanna Lumley's Nile | Documentary series | |
| 2011 | Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey | ||
| 2012 | Joanna Lumley: The Search for Noah's Ark | Documentary | |
| 2014 | Joanna Lumley Meets will.i.am | ||
| Bette Midler: One Night Only | Herself/host | Television special | |
| 2015 | Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure | Documentary series | |
| Joanna Lumley: Elvis and Me | Documentary feature | ||
| 2016 | Joanna Lumley's Japan | Documentary series | |
| 2017 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | Herself | "The Missing Crown Jewels" mini-series segment |
| Joanna Lumley's Postcards | Herself/presenter | Documentary series | |
| Joanna Lumley's India | |||
| Joanna & Jennifer: Absolutely Champers | Herself/co-presenter | One-time documentary special | |
| Poetry Off the Page | Narrator | Television film production | |
| 2018 | 71st British Academy Film Awards | Herself/presenter | |
| Joanna Lumley's Silk Road Adventure | Documentary series | ||
| 2020 | Joanna Lumley's Hidden Caribbean: Havana to Haiti | ||
| Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures | |||
| Heathrow: Britain's Busiest Airport | Narrator role | ||
| 2021 | Joanna Lumley's Home Sweet Home – Travels in My Own Land (a.k.a. Joanna Lumley's Britain) | Herself/presenter | |
| Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan | |||
| 2022 | Joanna Lumley's Great Cities of the World | ||
| RuPaul's Drag Race UK | Guest judge appearance | Series 4, episode 1 | |
| 2023 | Joanna Lumley's Spice Trail Adventure | Herself/presenter role | Documentary series format |
| 2024 | Eurovision Song Contest 2024 | Herself/spokesperson role | |
| 2025 | Joanna Lumley’s Danube | Herself/presenter capacity | Documentary series |
Theatre
- Not Now, Darling – Canterbury, 1969
- Don't Just Lie There Say Something – Garrick Theatre, 1971
- The End of Me Old Cigar – Greenwich Theatre, 1975
- Private Lives – UK touring production, 1982
- Noel & Gertie – King's Head, Islington, 1983
- Hedda Gabler – Dundee Repertory Theatre, 1984
- Blithe Spirit – Vaudeville Theatre, 1986
- An Ideal Husband – Chichester Festival Theatre, 1987
- The Cherry Orchard – Dundee Rep, 1988
- The Revengers' Comedies – Strand Theatre, 1991
- Who Shall I Be Tomorrow? – Greenwich Theatre, 1992
- The Letter – Lyric Hammersmith, 1995
- Jack and the Beanstalk – Royal Albert Hall, 1996
- The Cherry Orchard – Sheffield Crucible Theatre, 2007
- La Bête – Comedy Theatre and Music Box Theater, New York City, 2010
- The Lion in Winter – Theatre Royal Haymarket, 2011
- Joanna Lumley: It's All About Me – UK and Ireland tour, 2018
- Joanna Lumley: Me & My Travels – Australian tour, scheduled for 2024
Radio
- Conversations From A Long Marriage – A comedy series broadcast on BBC Radio 4 featuring Roger Allam, penned by Jan Etherington, running from 2018 to 2025
Authored works
- Peacocks and Commas: Best of the "Spectator" Competitions (1983) – Served as Editor
- Stare Back and Smile: Memoirs (1989)
- Forces Sweethearts (1993) – Edited collection
- Girl Friday (1994)
- In the Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon (1997)
- No Room for Secrets (2005)
- Absolutely (2011)
- A Queen for All Seasons: A Celebration of Our One and Only Queen Elizabeth II on Her Platinum Jubilee (2021)
In addition, she has lent her voice to audiobook narrations and contributed forewords to various publications.
Home media
- Joanna Lumley's Nile (2010)
- Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure (2015)
- Joanna Lumley's Japan (2016)
- Joanna Lumley's Silk Road Adventure (2018)
- Joanna Lumley's India (2018)
- Joanna Lumley's Home Sweet Home (2021)
- Joanna Lumley's Spice Trail Adventure (2023)
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Articles with hCards
- 1946 births
- Living people
- 20th-century British actresses
- 21st-century British actresses
- Actresses awarded damehoods
- Best Comedy Performance BAFTA Award (television) winners
- Best Entertainment Performance BAFTA Award (television) winners
- BAFTA fellows
- British activists
- British female models
- British film actresses
- British television actresses
- Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- AOL people