Quick Info
| Profession | Actress, presenter, author, television producer, activist and former model |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Date of Birth | 01/05/1946 |
| Age | 80 years |
| Birthplace | Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India |
| Zodiac Sign | Taurus |
Latest News about Joanna Lumley
22/10/2026
Dame Joanna Lumley launched the Royal British Legion's 2026 Poppy Appeal in London, which focuses on the families of Armed Forces personnel. The appeal aims to raise more than £50 million to support serving personnel, veterans and their families.
01/07/2026
Lumley said she was still making new plans after turning 80, including a new travel show and a shoot in Argentina. She also said she hoped to mark her 40th wedding anniversary with her husband, Stephen Barlow, in Buenos Aires.
01/05/2026
Joanna Lumley marked her 80th birthday and said she has no intention of slowing down, remaining committed to her career. She said she would jump at the chance to return to Absolutely Fabulous if Jennifer Saunders wrote a new series.
Do you like Joanna Lumley?
You can vote only once.
79% like · 21% dislike
Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley |
|---|---|
| Honours | Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE), 2022 New Year Honours; Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) |
| Overview | British actress known for playing Patsy Stone in the sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, also active as an author, presenter and human rights campaigner. |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 1.73 m |
|---|
Educational Qualification(s)
| Schooling | Boarded at Mickledene School in Rolvenden, Kent |
|---|---|
| Finishing School | Lucie Clayton Finishing School, London |
| Formal Drama Training | None; she did not attend drama school |
Personal Life
| Early Life | Spent much of her early childhood in the Far East because of her father's army posting, later living in Malaysia and England |
|---|---|
| Modelling | Worked as a photographic model in London in the 1960s |
Relationships & More
| Former Partner | Photographer Michael Claydon, father of her son |
|---|---|
| Spouse | Stephen Barlow |
Family
| Parents | Major James Rutherford Lumley and Thyra Beatrice Rose Lumley (née Weir) |
|---|---|
| Children | One son, James (Jamie) Lumley, born 1967 |
Career
| Early Career | Modelling in London, then small film and television roles from the late 1960s |
|---|---|
| Breakthrough | Purdey in The New Avengers (1976–1977) |
| Other Television | Coronation Street (1973), Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982), Sensitive Skin (2005–2007), Jam & Jerusalem (2006–2008), Finding Alice (2021–present), Amandaland (2025) |
| Film | Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), Curse of the Pink Panther (1983), Shirley Valentine (1989), James and the Giant Peach (1996), Ella Enchanted (2004), Paddington 2 (2017) |
| Stage | Hedda Gabler and Elvira in Blithe Spirit in the 1980s; Broadway revival of La Bête (2010–2011) |
| Awards and Nominations | Two BAFTA TV Awards for Absolutely Fabulous; Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play (2011); BAFTA Fellowship (2017) |
| Activism | Supporter of Survival International and the Gurkha Justice Campaign; supporter of the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Was a pin-up figure for many British men after her role as Purdey | |
| 2. Portrayed an alternative thirteenth Doctor in the Doctor Who Red Nose Day sketch The Curse of Fatal Death | |
| 3. Voiced the rag doll Annie in the animated series The Forgotten Toys (1995) | |
| 4. Her father was born in Lahore, now part of Pakistan |
