Joanna Lumley

Actor · Born May 1, 1946 · Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India

Highest rated as cast or director

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.

Acted in 105

2020s

2026
Frank and Percy
Movie
2025
A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower
Mrs Stone
Amandaland
Felicity · 12 episodes
73
2024
My Week with Maisy
Mrs. Foster
Fool Me Once
Judith Burkett · 8 episodes
69
2022
Wednesday
Grandmama Hester Frump · 4 episodes
81
2021
Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan
Presenter
Blankety Blank
TV · 5 Seasons · Family · Comedy
Falling for Figaro
Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop
64
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Lady Narborough
Joanna Lumley’s Home Sweet Home – Travels in My Own Land
TV
Finding Alice
Sarah Dillon · 6 episodes
2020
Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures
Cast · 3 episodes

2010s

2018
Summer Camp Island
Adult Susie (voice) · 2 episodes
77
2017
Finding Your Feet
Jackie
66
Motherland
Felicity · 1 episode
78
Paddington 2
Felicity Fanshaw
84
The Man You're Not
Joanna Lumley
Joanna Lumley's Postcards
TV
2016
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited)
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
Patsy Stone
56
Me Before You
Mary Rawlinson
66
2015
She's Funny That Way
Vivian Claremont
54
Absolutely Anything
Fenella
45
2014
Joanna Lumley Meets Will.I.Am
Presenter
2013
Gangsta Granny
The Queen
The Wolf of Wall Street
Aunt Emma
80
2012
The Making of a Lady
Lady Maria Byrne
2011
Late Bloomers
Charlotte
52
2010
Little Crackers
Features Commissioner · 1 episode
Boogie Woogie
Mrs. Alfreda Rhinegold
46

2000s

2008
Mistresses
Vivienne Roden · 4 episodes
71
2007
A Bucket O' French and Saunders
TV
Lewis
Esme Ford · 1 episode
80
2006
Jam and Jerusalem
Delilah Stagg · 5 episodes
76
2005
Sensitive Skin
Davina Jackson · 12 episodes
Corpse Bride
Maudeline Everglot (voice)
78
The Magic Roundabout
Ermintrude (voice)
2004
Agatha Christie's Marple
Dolly Bantry · 2 episodes
79
Stories of Lost Souls
Last in Line
Ella Enchanted
Dame Olga
59
EuroTrip
Hostel Clerk
60
Standing Room Only
Last in line
2003
My Dad's the Prime Minister
TV
2002
The Cat's Meow
Elinor Glyn
65
Up in Town
Madison Blakelock · 10 episodes
2000
Mirrorball
Jackie Riviera
Whispers: An Elephant's Tale
Half Tusk (voice)
47
Maybe Baby
Shiela

1990s

1999
Dr Willoughby
Donna Sinclair · 6 episodes
Mad Cows
Gillian
The Foxbusters
Sims / Evita / Voracity (voice) · 26 episodes
Parting Shots
Freda
52
Nancherrow
TV
Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death
The Female Doctor
Alice in Wonderland
Tiger Lily (voice)
51
Nancherrow
Diana Carey-Lewis
1998
A Rather English Marriage
Liz Franks
Absolutely Fabulous: A Life
Patsy Stone (archive footage)
The Tale of Sweeney Todd
Mrs. Lovett
Coming Home
Diana Carey-Lewis · 2 episodes
Coming Home
Diana Carey-Lewis
64
1997
Prince Valiant
Morgan Le Fey
51
The Forgotten Toys
Annie (voice) · 26 episodes
1996
Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
Patsy Stone
James and the Giant Peach
Aunt Spiker
74
1995
Innocent Lies
Lady Helena Graves
45
In the Best Possible Taste: A Tribute to Kenny Everett
Sketch Performer (Archive Footage)
Cold Comfort Farm
Mary Smiling
How to Be Absolutely Fabulous
Patsy Stone (archive footage)
The Forgotten Toys
Annie (voice)
1994
Girl Friday
Presenter
Class Act
Kate Swift · 14 episodes
1992
Absolutely Fabulous
Patsy Stone · 34 episodes
80
1990
Cluedo
Mrs. Peacock · 6 episodes
A Ghost in Monte Carlo
Lady Drayton

1980s

1989
Shirley Valentine
Marjorie Majors
66
1988
Roseanne
Patsy Stone · 1 episode
70
Comic Relief
TV
1986
Lovejoy
Victoria Cavero · 3 episodes
77
1984
Oxbridge Blues
Gigi · 1 episode
The Glory Boys
Helen · 3 episodes
Mistral's Daughter
Lally Longbridge · 8 episodes
1983
The Weather in the Streets
Kate
Curse of the Pink Panther
Countess Chandra
39
1982
Trail of the Pink Panther
Marie Jouvet
42
Electric Blue - The Movie
(archive footage)
The Kenny Everett Television Show
Various · 1 episode
72
1980
An Audience with Dame Edna Everage
Movie
Electric Blue 002
(archive footage)

1970s

1979
The Plank
Hitcher
Sapphire & Steel
Sapphire · 34 episodes
1976
The New Avengers
Purdey · 26 episodes
72
1973
Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!
Miss Parkyn
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
Jessica Van Helsing
55
1972
Are You Being Served?
Miss French · 2 episodes
78
1971
A Ghost Story for Christmas
TV · 3 Seasons · Drama
The House That Dripped Blood
Movie · Horror · Mystery
68
Games That Lovers Play
Fanny Hill
1970
The Ballad of Tam Lin
Georgia
The Breaking of Bumbo
Susie

1960s

1969
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
The English Girl
68
Some Girls Do
Robot Saboteur (uncredited)
57
1962
Steptoe and Son
Bunty · 1 episode
78
1961
The Avengers
Purdey
82

Produced 4

2020s

2022
Joanna Lumley's Great Cities of the World
Executive Producer
2020
Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures
Executive Producer

2010s

2018
Joanna Lumley's Silk Road Adventure
Executive Producer

2000s

2001
The Cazalets
Producer

Directed 1

2010s

2010
Little Crackers
Director

Appearances75

2020s

2025
Netflix Tudum 2025
Self
Joanna Lumley's Danube
Self - Host · 4 episodes
Twiggy
Self
David Frost Vs
self · 6 episodes
The House of Clemens
Self
Jewel of the Med: Majorca and Menorca
Self - Narrator (voice) · 5 episodes
Jewels of the Med
Self - Narrator (voice) · 10 episodes
2024
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out
Self / Patricia "Patsy" Stone
2023
imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter
Self
Joanna Lumley's Spice Trail Adventure
Self - Presenter · 4 episodes
Joanna Lumley: My Best Bits - In My Own Words
Self
Late Night Lycett
Self - Guest · 1 episode
2022
Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive
Self - Friend
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Self · 1 episode
Joanna Lumley's Great Cities of the World
Self - Presenter · 3 episodes
2021
Quentin Blake – The Drawing of My Life
Self
Rosie Jones' Trip Hazard
Narrator · 5 episodes
The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out
Self
Joanna Lumley's Britain
Self - Host · 3 episodes
2020
Coronation Street: 60 Unforgettable Years
Narrator
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse
Narrator (voice) · 1 episode
78
Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime
Self · 4 episodes
Joanna Lumley's Hidden Caribbean: Havana to Haiti
Herself - Presenter · 2 episodes
In Search of Dracula
Herself