JOANNA Lumley is a much loved actress, known by most for her legendary role as Patsy in hit 90s comedy Absolutely Fabulous.
She has since gone on to appear in major blockbusters and presents various travel documentaries, but what you might not know is that the Ab Fab star has walked the cobbles…
Joanna Lumley was born on May 1, 1946, and is an English actress, voice-over artist, former model, author and activist.
The 74-year-old was born in Srinagar, Kashmir and Jammu, to English parents, Thyra Beatrice Rose and Major James Rutherford Lumley.
Joanna was brought up in Kent where she attended Mickledene School in Rolvenden as a boarder.
She was educated at St Mary’s Convent School in Hastings and afterwards attended the Lucie Clayton Finishing School, after being turned down by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at the age of 16.
Joanna started off her career as a model in the 60s, but soon turned her hand to TV and film.
Lumley appeared on Coronation Street for a brief stint between July and August 1973 as Elaine Perkins.
Elaine was the girlfriend of Ken Barlow – who is still on Corrie today!
Joanna sent a very birthday message to Corrie for its 60th anniversary.
In a message shown on Coronation Street: 60 Unforgettable Years, Lumley said: “It’s unbelievable and what makes it even more unbelievable is that I, Elaine Perkins, who is never allowed in the Rovers Return, am now behind here, holding up my glass and saying to you all, the cast and crew then and now, ‘Happy happy birthday’.
“A thousand congratulations, and in my heart I shall always be part of Corrie.
“Bless you sweethearts, cheers!” she sipped from her beer and added: “I know how to pull pints now!”
Since 1969 she has starred in over 50 television shows.
These include The New Avengers (1976–77), Sapphire & Steel (1979–82), Sensitive Skin (2005–07), Jam & Jerusalem (2006–08), and Finding Alice (late 2020).
Her role as Purdey in The New Avengers started a craze in Purdey haircuts in the seventies.
Joanna has also hosted various travel shows, including ITV’s Joanna Lumley’s Unseen Adventures.
Although Joanna was already a well-known star, she reached international success when she was cast in the Jennifer Saunders comedy, Absolutely Fabulous in 1992.
Joanna has won two Bafta TV Awards for her role as Patsy.
She has played the role in 39 episodes and also a feature film which was released in 2016.
Joanna’s other movie roles 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), Me Before You (2016), The Sandman (2020), and The Croods 2 (2020).
She also starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) where the two had to share a kiss.
As of August 2020 Joanna was back on the box with new ITV series Unseen Adventures.
The show sees her share her treasure trove of unseen stories and give viewers an insight into how her travel programmes are made and why she loves to make them.
Featuring behind the scenes footage and outtakes, viewers get to see Joanna at home as she recalls some of her most memorable journeys and hidden gems from her travels
Joanna has been married twice.
She wed her first husband, writer Jeremy Lloyd, in 1970, but had the marriage dissolved.
Joanna then went on to marry conductor Stephen Barlow in 1986 and they live in London together.
Her son actor James Lumley was born in 1967. His father is the famous photographer Michael Claydon.
