Joanna Lumley

Bio:
Joanna Lumley (born Joanna Lamod Lumley on May 1, 1946 in Srinagar, Kashmire and Jammu, British India) is a British actress, former model. Joanna’s father was a major in the British Indian Army. She grew up in Kent, England, attending Mickledene School in Rolvenden. Her family also spent time in Hong Kong and Malaysia. After attending the Lucie Clayton Finishing School, Joanna spent three years as a model. She began her acting career in 1966, appearing in an episode of the Bruce Forsyth show. She was a Bond girl in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and had a brief role on the long-running soap, Coronation Street. She was in 1974’s The Satanic Rites of Dracula, the last Hammer film to star Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee. Joanna’s big role came as Purdey in the 1976 revival of The Avengers television series. She worked on Sapphire & Steel, a television science-fiction series. In the ‘80s, she appeared in a pair of Pink Panther movies, as well as a handful of television roles. Her career found a second win in 1992, when Joanna was cast as Patsy Stone in the hit comedy television series, Absolute Fabulous. Her role won her multiple BAFTAs. Joanna has also appeared in films Ella Enchanted, Corpse Bride and The Wolf of Wall Street.

Best Known For:
Joanna Lumley is best known as an actress who portrayed Purdey on The New Avengers and Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous.

Personal Life:
Joanna revealed that she hid that she was an unmarried mother during the 1960s. She had her son, James, in 1967, with photographer Michael Claydon. She was married to Jeremy Lloyd, but divorced. She wed actor Stephen Barlow in 1986. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1995. Joanna is highly active in charity and humanitarian efforts.