Portrait of Joanna Lumley

Joanna Lumley

Acting

Biography

Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley DBE FRGS (born 1 May 1946) is a British actress, presenter, former model, author, television producer, and activist. She has won two BAFTA TV Awards for her role as Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012), and was nominated for the 2011 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for the Broadway revival of La Bête. In 2013, she received the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards, and in 2017 she was honoured with the BAFTA Fellowship award. Lumley's other television credits include The New Avengers (1976–1977), Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982), Sensitive Skin (2005–2007), Jam & Jerusalem (2006–2008) and Finding Alice (2021–present) as well as playing Elaine Perkins in Coronation Street in 1973. Her film appearances include On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), 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). She had roles in two episodes of Are You Being Served? (1973–1975) written by Jeremy Lloyd, whom she had married and divorced three years prior to her first appearance on the show. Lumley is an advocate and human rights activist for Survival International and the Gurkha Justice Campaign. She supports charities and animal welfare groups, such as Compassion in World Farming and Vegetarians' International Voice for Animals. Lumley was made a Dame (DBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to drama, entertainment and charity.

Born: May 1, 1946

Place of Birth: Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India

Filmography

2025
2025
Twiggy

as Self

2025
Amandaland

as Felicity

2025
Jewel of the Med: Majorca and Menorca

as Self - Narrator (voice)

2025
Jewels of the Med

as Self - Narrator (voice)

2024
My Week with Maisy

as Mrs. Foster

2024
Fool Me Once

as Judith Burkett

2023
Late Night Lycett

as Self - Guest

2022
Wednesday

as Grandmama Hester Frump

2021
Falling for Figaro

as Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop

2021
The Picture of Dorian Gray

as Lady Narborough

2021
2021
2020
2019
RuPaul's Drag Race UK

as Self - Guest Judge

2019
Counting Tigers

as Narrator (voice)

2019
7 Up & Me

as Narrator (voice)

2018
2018
Summer Camp Island

as Adult Susie (voice)

2017
2017
Paddington 2

as Felicity Fanshaw

2017
2017
The Man You're Not

as Joanna Lumley

2017
2016
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves

as Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited)

2016
2016
Me Before You

as Mary Rawlinson

2015
She's Funny That Way

as Vivian Claremont

2015
2014
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy

as Narrator (voice)

2013
Gangsta Granny

as The Queen

2013
2013
2013
2012
The Making of a Lady

as Lady Maria Byrne

2011
Late Bloomers

as Charlotte

2010
Boogie Woogie

as Mrs. Alfreda Rhinegold

2008
Mistresses

as Vivienne Roden

2007
Lewis

as Esme Ford

2006
Jam and Jerusalem

as Delilah Stagg

2006
2005
Sensitive Skin

as Davina Jackson

2005
Corpse Bride

as Maudeline Everglot (voice)

2005
2005
2004
2004
Stories of Lost Souls

as Last in Line

2004
The Magic Roundabout

as Ermintrude (voice)

2004
Ella Enchanted

as Dame Olga

2004
EuroTrip

as Hostel Clerk

2004
Standing Room Only

as Last in line

2003
Posh Nosh

as Narrator (voice)

2002
Top Gear

as Self

2002
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway

as Self - Guest Announcer

2002
Up in Town

as Madison Blakelock

2001
The Cat's Meow

as Elinor Glyn

2000
Mirrorball

as Jackie Riviera

2000
Whispers: An Elephant's Tale

as Half Tusk (voice)

2000
Maybe Baby

as Shiela

1999
Dr Willoughby

as Donna Sinclair

1999
Mad Cows

as Gillian

1999
The Foxbusters

as Sims / Evita / Voracity (voice)

1999
1999
1999
Alice in Wonderland

as Tiger Lily (voice)

1999
Nancherrow

as Diana Carey-Lewis

1998
1998
Absolutely Fabulous: A Life

as Patsy Stone (archive footage)

1998
1998
Coming Home

as Diana Carey-Lewis

1998
Coming Home

as Diana Carey-Lewis

1998
Parkinson

as Self

1997
Prince Valiant

as Morgan Le Fey

1997
The Forgotten Toys

as Annie (voice)

1996
1995
Innocent Lies

as Lady Helena Graves

1995
In the Best Possible Taste: A Tribute to Kenny Everett

as Sketch Performer (Archive Footage)

1995
How to Be Absolutely Fabulous

as Patsy Stone (archive footage)

1995
The Forgotten Toys

as Annie (voice)

1995
Cold Comfort Farm

as Mary Smiling

1994
Girl Friday

as Presenter

1994
Class Act

as Kate Swift

1990
Cluedo

as Mrs. Peacock

1990
A Ghost in Monte Carlo

as Lady Drayton

1989
Shirley Valentine

as Marjorie Majors

1988
Roseanne

as Patsy Stone

1987
1986
Lovejoy

as Victoria Cavero

1984
1984
1984
Mistral's Daughter

as Lally Longbridge

1983
Curse of the Pink Panther

as Countess Chandra

1982
1982
Wogan

as Self

1982
Wogan

as Self - Presenter

1982
Electric Blue - The Movie

as (archive footage)

1982
1980
1980
Electric Blue 002

as (archive footage)

1979
The Plank

as Hitcher

1979
Sapphire & Steel

as Sapphire

1976
1975
The Cuckoo Waltz

as Harriet Paulden

1973
The Satanic Rites of Dracula

as Jessica Van Helsing

1972
Are You Being Served?

as Miss French

1971
1970
1969
1969
Some Girls Do

as Robot Saboteur (uncredited)

1962
1961
The Avengers

as Purdey

1956
Eurovision Song Contest

as Self - UK’s Spokesperson

1956
Tony Awards

as Self - Nominee

1949