Joanna Lumley
Born: 1946-05-01 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India
Known For: 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.
Filmography
2026
2025
- Amandaland as Felicity
- David Frost Vs as self
- Netflix Tudum 2025 as Self
- Jewels of the Med as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Twiggy as Self
- The House of Clemens as Self
- A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower as Mrs Stone
- Joanna Lumley's Danube as Self - Host
- Jewel of the Med: Majorca and Menorca as Self - Narrator (voice)
2024
- Fool Me Once as Judith Burkett
- Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out as Self / Patricia "Patsy" Stone
- My Week with Maisy as Mrs. Foster
2023
- Late Night Lycett as Self - Guest
- imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter as Self
- Joanna Lumley's Spice Trail Adventure as Self - Presenter
- Joanna Lumley: My Best Bits - In My Own Words as Self
2022
- Wednesday as Grandmama Hester Frump
- Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg as Self
- Joanna Lumley's Great Cities of the World as Self - Presenter
- Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive as Self - Friend
2021
- Blankety Blank
- Finding Alice as Sarah Dillon
- Rosie Jones' Trip Hazard as Narrator
- Falling for Figaro as Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop
- The Picture of Dorian Gray as Lady Narborough
- The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out as Self
- Quentin Blake – The Drawing of My Life as Self
- Joanna Lumley’s Home Sweet Home – Travels in My Own Land
- Joanna Lumley's Britain as Self - Host
- Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan as Presenter
2020
- The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse as Narrator (voice)
- Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime as Self
- Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures as Cast
- Coronation Street: 60 Unforgettable Years as Narrator
- Joanna Lumley's Hidden Caribbean: Havana to Haiti as Herself - Presenter
- In Search of Dracula as Herself
2019
- RuPaul's Drag Race UK as Self - Guest Judge
- Celebrity Gogglebox as Self
- 7 Up & Me as Narrator (voice)
- Counting Tigers as Narrator (voice)
2018
- Summer Camp Island as Adult Susie (voice)
- Joanna Lumley's Silk Road Adventure as Self - Presenter
- 20 Years of the Black Eyed Peas as Herself - Host
- Saturday Knight Takeaway as Self
2017
- Paddington 2 as Felicity Fanshaw
- Motherland as Felicity
- Finding Your Feet as Jackie
- And the Winner Isn't as Self
- Carnage: Swallowing the Past as Herself (voice)
- The Missing Crown Jewels as Self
- Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers as Self - Presenter
- The Man You're Not as Joanna Lumley
- Joanna Lumley's India as Herself
- Joanna Lumley's Postcards
2016
- Me Before You as Mary Rawlinson
- Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie as Patsy Stone
- British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves as Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Attenborough at 90 as Self
- Joanna Lumley's Japan as Herself
2015
- Absolutely Anything as Fenella
- She's Funny That Way as Vivian Claremont
- Britain's Busiest Airport: Heathrow as Narrator (voice)
- Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure as Self - Presenter
- Joanna Lumley: Elvis and Me as Self
2014
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as Self
- The Michael McIntyre Chat Show as Self - Guest
- 50 Years of BBC Two Comedy as Narrator (voice)
- Joanna Lumley Meets Will.I.Am as Presenter
- Bette Midler: One Night Only as Self - Host
2013
- The Last Leg as Self
- The Wolf of Wall Street as Aunt Emma
- Car S.O.S. as Herself
- The Great Comic Relief Bake Off as Self - Contestant
- Gangsta Granny as The Queen
2012
- The Making of a Lady as Lady Maria Byrne
- The Genius of Roald Dahl as Herself
- Joanna Lumley: The Search for Noah's Ark as Herself - Presenter
2011
- Late Bloomers as Charlotte
- Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey as Herself
- Wogan on Wodehouse as Self
2010
- Justin Lee Collins: Good Times as Self
- The National Television Awards Backstage Live
- Boogie Woogie as Mrs. Alfreda Rhinegold
- The Snowman Live Stage Show as Narrator
2009
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen as Self - Guest
- Live from Studio Five as Self
2008
- Mistresses as Vivienne Roden
- Ian Fleming: Where Bond Began as Herself
- Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights as Herself
2007
- The Graham Norton Show as Self
- Lewis as Esme Ford
- A Bucket O' French and Saunders
- Counting Out Time as Herself
2006
- The One Show as Self
- Jam and Jerusalem as Delilah Stagg
- Betjeman and Me
- My Favourite Attenborough Moment as Self
- Philip and Elizabeth
2005
- Corpse Bride as Maudeline Everglot (voice)
- Sensitive Skin as Davina Jackson
- The Magic Roundabout as Ermintrude (voice)
- Final Chance to Save as Herself
- The Funny Blokes of British Comedy as Miss French (archive footage) (uncredited)
- The Friday Night Project as Self - Host
2004
- Agatha Christie's Marple as Dolly Bantry
- Parkinson as Self - Guest
- Ella Enchanted as Dame Olga
- EuroTrip as Hostel Clerk
- Stories of Lost Souls as Last in Line
- Standing Room Only as Last in line
2003
- My Dad's the Prime Minister
- Posh Nosh as Narrator (voice)
2002
- Top Gear as Self
- Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway as Self - Guest Announcer
- The Cat's Meow as Elinor Glyn
- Up in Town as Madison Blakelock
2001
- The Cazalets ... (Producer)
2000
- Whispers: An Elephant's Tale as Half Tusk (voice)
- Maybe Baby as Shiela
- Mirrorball as Jackie Riviera
1999
- The Foxbusters as Sims / Evita / Voracity (voice)
- Alice in Wonderland as Tiger Lily (voice)
- Nancherrow
- Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death as The Female Doctor
- Parting Shots as Freda
- Dr Willoughby as Donna Sinclair
- Mad Cows as Gillian
- Nancherrow as Diana Carey-Lewis
1998
- Parkinson as Self
- Coming Home as Diana Carey-Lewis
- Coming Home as Diana Carey-Lewis
- The Tale of Sweeney Todd as Mrs. Lovett
- A Rather English Marriage as Liz Franks
- Absolutely Fabulous: A Life as Patsy Stone (archive footage)
1997
- The Forgotten Toys as Annie (voice)
- Prince Valiant as Morgan Le Fey
- Joanna Lumley in the Kingdom of the Thunderdragon as Herself
1996
- James and the Giant Peach as Aunt Spiker
- Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout as Patsy Stone
1995
- The Mrs Merton Show as Self
- Innocent Lies as Lady Helena Graves
- Cold Comfort Farm as Mary Smiling
- How to Be Absolutely Fabulous as Patsy Stone (archive footage)
- In the Best Possible Taste: A Tribute to Kenny Everett as Sketch Performer (Archive Footage)
- The Forgotten Toys as Annie (voice)
1994
- Class Act as Kate Swift
- Girl Friday as Presenter
1992
- Absolutely Fabulous as Patsy Stone
1990
- Cluedo as Mrs. Peacock
- Plunder
- A Ghost in Monte Carlo as Lady Drayton
1989
- Challenge Anneka as Self
- Shirley Valentine as Marjorie Majors
1988
- Roseanne as Patsy Stone
- Comic Relief
1987
- Going Live! as Self
1986
- Lovejoy as Victoria Cavero
1984
- Mistral's Daughter as Lally Longbridge
- Oxbridge Blues as Gigi
- The Glory Boys as Helen
1983
- Curse of the Pink Panther as Countess Chandra
- The Weather in the Streets as Kate
1982
- Champs-Elysées as Self
- Wogan as Self
- The Kenny Everett Television Show as Various
- Trail of the Pink Panther as Marie Jouvet
- Electric Blue - The Movie as (archive footage)
1980
- Children In Need as Self
- An Audience with Dame Edna Everage
- Electric Blue 002 as (archive footage)
1979
- Sapphire & Steel as Sapphire
- The Plank as Hitcher
1978
- An Audience with... as Self
1976
- The New Avengers as Purdey
1973
- The Satanic Rites of Dracula as Jessica Van Helsing
- Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! as Miss Parkyn
1972
- Are You Being Served? as Miss French
1971
- A Ghost Story for Christmas
- It's Awfully Bad for Your Eyes, Darling as Samantha Ryder-Ross
- The House That Dripped Blood
- Games That Lovers Play as Fanny Hill
1970
- The Ballad of Tam Lin as Georgia
- The Breaking of Bumbo as Susie
1969
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service as The English Girl
- Some Girls Do as Robot Saboteur (uncredited)
1962
- Steptoe and Son as Bunty
1961
- The Avengers as Purdey
1956
- Eurovision Song Contest as Self - Spokesperson
- Tony Awards as Self - Nominee
1949
- The BAFTA Awards as Host