---
name: "Joanna Lumley"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/joanna-lumley"
fi1m_id: "joanna-lumley"
imdb_id: "nm0525921"
tmdb_id: 34901
wikidata_id: "Q254886"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "1 May 1946"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 14
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 13
updated: "2026-10-07T19:52:38.834061+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Joanna Lumley

## Identity

Joanna Lumley

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/joanna-lumley
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** joanna-lumley
- **IMDb ID:** nm0525921
- **TMDB ID:** 34901
- **Wikidata ID:** Q254886
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Lumley, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q254886, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0525921/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/34901

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

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 1 May 1946, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India
- **Active:** 1962–present
- **Also known as:** Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley, Dame Joanna Lumley
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 14: 13 acting, 1 other
- **BAFTA Film Awards:** 1 BAFTA (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 13 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 83 (2), 1970s 72 (1), 1980s 34 (1), 1990s 78 (2), 2000s 72 (1), 2010s 70 (4), 2020s 76 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 68 across 8 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 10, Adventure 2, Crime 2, Drama 2, Mystery 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $908m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Lumley, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q254886, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0525921/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/34901

## Streaming the US now

- **Pluto TV:** [*Absolutely Anything*](https://film.one/film/absolutely-anything.md) (34), [*Curse of the Pink Panther*](https://film.one/film/curse-of-the-pink-panther.md) (34)
- **Paramount+:** [*The Wolf of Wall Street*](https://film.one/film/the-wolf-of-wall-street.md) (82)
- **BritBox:** [*Absolutely Fabulous*](https://film.one/tv/absolutely-fabulous.md) (81)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Amandaland*](https://film.one/tv/amandaland.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Joanna Lumley

> Joanna Lumley puts a cultivated voice and sharp comic timing to unkind use. We like her best when nobody insists on a softer side; *Amandaland* allows that, though another formidable mother is hardly adventurous casting.

In *Amandaland* (2025), Joanna Lumley’s Felicity makes her daughter’s need for approval painfully easy to understand. She is a disparaging mother, and the programme leaves the relationship without much reassurance. We laughed at Felicity’s disparagement of Amanda because Lumley does not soften it with a suggestion of motherly concern. This is Lumley doing what we value most in her comedy: allowing someone to be thoroughly objectionable without making the performance tiresome.

Her breakthrough came in action rather than comedy. Purdey in *The New Avengers* (1976–77) brought her to prominence, followed by *Sapphire & Steel* (1979–82). Patsy Stone in *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992–2012) marked the decisive comic turn. Working with writer and co-star Jennifer Saunders, Lumley made the louche, grotesque character her defining part. Those earlier action and science-fiction roles are worth remembering when the plummy voice threatens to become the only thing a part requires of her.

That voice is an efficient way of establishing class, but repeated casting as formidable mothers and grandmothers can limit what she is asked to do. The danger is that a part will settle for the accent and leave her little else to play. *Amandaland* gives her more to work with: Felicity’s disapproval matters to the woman trying so hard to remain impressive. Opposite Lucy Punch’s Amanda, Lumley helps make the snobbery more than a succession of superior remarks, because we can see why Amanda needs to keep making them.

The limitation in *Amandaland* is elsewhere. Its wider ensemble takes too much effort to seem like people who regularly spend time together, and the number of jokes cannot quite conceal that. Punch, Lumley and Phillipa Dunne, whose Anne gives Amanda another difficult relationship, provide firmer reasons to return than the group as a whole. Try it for Lumley at her least consoling, but do not expect even Felicity to make everyone else fit together.

## Biography

Dame Joanna Lumley is a British actress. She began her career as a model before moving into television and film, with early roles including an appearance in *Coronation Street* (1973) and Purdey in *The New Avengers* (1976–1977).

Lumley is best known for playing Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992–2012), for which she received two BAFTA TV Awards. Her other credits include Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982), *On Her Majesty's Secret Service* (1969), *Ella Enchanted* (2004), *Corpse Bride* (2005), *The Wolf of Wall Street* (2013) and *Wednesday* (2022–). She reprised the role of Felicity Sanderson, originally seen in *Motherland*, as the mother of the central character in the spin-off series *Amandaland* (2025–2026).

*Sources: imdb.com, theguardian.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (14)

### Performed in (13) — the average rests on these

- *Amandaland* (2025), Fi1m 80, as Felicity — [page](https://film.one/tv/amandaland.md)
- *Wednesday* (2022), Fi1m 71, as Grandmama Hester Frump — [page](https://film.one/tv/wednesday.md)
- *Motherland* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Felicity — [page](https://film.one/tv/motherland-2017.md)
- *Paddington 2* (2017), Fi1m 91, as Felicity Fanshaw — [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md)
- *Absolutely Anything* (2015), Fi1m 34, as Fenella — [page](https://film.one/film/absolutely-anything.md)
- *The Wolf of Wall Street* (2013), Fi1m 82, as Aunt Emma — [page](https://film.one/film/the-wolf-of-wall-street.md)
- *Corpse Bride* (2005), Fi1m 72, as Maudeline Everglot (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/corpse-bride.md)
- *A Rather English Marriage* (1998), Fi1m 75, as Liz Franks — [page](https://film.one/film/a-rather-english-marriage.md)
- *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992), Fi1m 81, as Patsy Stone — [page](https://film.one/tv/absolutely-fabulous.md)
- *Curse of the Pink Panther* (1983), Fi1m 34, as Countess Chandra — [page](https://film.one/film/curse-of-the-pink-panther.md)
- *Are You Being Served?* (1972), Fi1m 72, as Miss French — [page](https://film.one/tv/are-you-being-served.md)
- *On Her Majesty's Secret Service* (1969), Fi1m 83, as The English Girl — [page](https://film.one/film/on-her-majestys-secret-service.md)
- *Steptoe and Son* (1962), Fi1m 83, as Bunty — [page](https://film.one/tv/steptoe-and-son.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Late Night Lycett* (2023), Fi1m 76, as Self - Guest — [page](https://film.one/tv/late-night-lycett.md)

## Complete filmography (120)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Frank and Percy* (2026), Actor
- *A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower* (2025), as Mrs Stone
- *Amandaland* (2025), series, as Felicity — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/amandaland.md)
- *My Week with Maisy* (2024), as Mrs. Foster
- *Fool Me Once* (2024), series, as Judith Burkett
- *Wednesday* (2022), series, as Grandmama Hester Frump — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/wednesday.md)
- *Joanna Lumley's Great Cities of the World* (2022), series, Executive Producer
- *Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan* (2021), as Presenter
- *Blankety Blank* (2021), series, Actor
- *Falling for Figaro* (2021), as Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop
- *The Picture of Dorian Gray* (2021), as Lady Narborough
- *Joanna Lumley’s Home Sweet Home – Travels in My Own Land* (2021), series, Actor
- *Finding Alice* (2021), series, as Sarah Dillon
- *Coronation Street: 60 Unforgettable Years* (2020), as Narrator
- *The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse* (2020), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures* (2020), series, as Cast · Executive Producer
- *Counting Tigers* (2019), as Narrator (voice)
- *7 Up & Me* (2019), as Narrator (voice)
- *Joanna Lumley's Silk Road Adventure* (2018), series, Executive Producer
- *Summer Camp Island* (2018), series, as Adult Susie (voice)
- *Finding Your Feet* (2017), as Jackie
- *Paddington 2* (2017), as Felicity Fanshaw — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/paddington-2.md)
- *Motherland* (2017), series, as Felicity — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/motherland-2017.md)
- *The Man You're Not* (2017), as Joanna Lumley
- *Joanna Lumley's Postcards* (2017), series, Actor
- *British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves* (2016), as Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie* (2016), as Patsy Stone
- *Me Before You* (2016), as Mary Rawlinson
- *She's Funny That Way* (2015), as Vivian Claremont
- *Absolutely Anything* (2015), as Fenella — Fi1m 34, [page](https://film.one/film/absolutely-anything.md)
- *50 Years of BBC Two Comedy* (2014), as Narrator (voice)
- *Joanna Lumley Meets Will.I.Am* (2014), as Presenter
- *Gangsta Granny* (2013), as The Queen
- *The Wolf of Wall Street* (2013), as Aunt Emma — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-wolf-of-wall-street.md)
- *The Making of a Lady* (2012), as Lady Maria Byrne
- *Late Bloomers* (2011), as Charlotte
- *The Snowman Live Stage Show* (2010), as Narrator
- *Boogie Woogie* (2010), as Mrs. Alfreda Rhinegold
- *The National Television Awards Backstage Live* (2010), series, Actor
- *Mistresses* (2008), series, as Vivienne Roden
- *A Bucket O' French and Saunders* (2007), series, Actor
- *Lewis* (2007), series, as Esme Ford
- *Jam and Jerusalem* (2006), series, as Delilah Stagg
- *Betjeman and Me* (2006), series, Actor
- *Philip and Elizabeth* (2006), series, Actor
- *Sensitive Skin* (2005), series, as Davina Jackson
- *Corpse Bride* (2005), as Maudeline Everglot (voice) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/corpse-bride.md)
- *The Funny Blokes of British Comedy* (2005), as Miss French (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *The Magic Roundabout* (2005), as Ermintrude (voice)
- *Agatha Christie's Marple* (2004), series, as Dolly Bantry
- *Stories of Lost Souls* (2004), as Last in Line
- *Ella Enchanted* (2004), as Dame Olga
- *EuroTrip* (2004), as Hostel Clerk
- *Standing Room Only* (2004), as Last in line
- *My Dad's the Prime Minister* (2003), series, Actor
- *Posh Nosh* (2003), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *The Cat's Meow* (2002), as Elinor Glyn
- *Up in Town* (2002), series, as Madison Blakelock
- *The Cazalets* (2001), series, Producer
- *Mirrorball* (2000), as Jackie Riviera
- *Whispers: An Elephant's Tale* (2000), as Half Tusk (voice)
- *Maybe Baby* (2000), as Shiela
- *Dr Willoughby* (1999), series, as Donna Sinclair
- *Mad Cows* (1999), as Gillian
- *The Foxbusters* (1999), series, as Sims / Evita / Voracity (voice)
- *Parting Shots* (1999), as Freda
- *Nancherrow* (1999), series, Actor
- *Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death* (1999), as The Female Doctor
- *Alice in Wonderland* (1999), as Tiger Lily (voice)
- *Nancherrow* (1999), as Diana Carey-Lewis
- *A Rather English Marriage* (1998), as Liz Franks — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/a-rather-english-marriage.md)
- *Absolutely Fabulous: A Life* (1998), as Patsy Stone (archive footage)
- *The Tale of Sweeney Todd* (1998), as Mrs. Lovett
- *Coming Home* (1998), series, as Diana Carey-Lewis
- *Coming Home* (1998), as Diana Carey-Lewis
- *Prince Valiant* (1997), as Morgan Le Fey
- *The Forgotten Toys* (1997), series, as Annie (voice)
- *Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout* (1996), as Patsy Stone
- *James and the Giant Peach* (1996), as Aunt Spiker
- *Innocent Lies* (1995), as Lady Helena Graves
- *In the Best Possible Taste: A Tribute to Kenny Everett* (1995), as Sketch Performer (Archive Footage)
- *How to Be Absolutely Fabulous* (1995), as Patsy Stone (archive footage)
- *Cold Comfort Farm* (1995), as Mary Smiling
- *The Forgotten Toys* (1995), as Annie (voice)
- *Girl Friday* (1994), as Presenter
- *Class Act* (1994), series, as Kate Swift
- *Absolutely Fabulous* (1992), series, as Patsy Stone — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/absolutely-fabulous.md)
- *Cluedo* (1990), series, as Mrs. Peacock
- *A Ghost in Monte Carlo* (1990), as Lady Drayton
- *Plunder* (1990), series, Actor
- *Shirley Valentine* (1989), as Marjorie Majors
- *Roseanne* (1988), series, as Patsy Stone — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md)
- *Comic Relief* (1988), series, Actor
- *Lovejoy* (1986), series, as Victoria Cavero
- *Oxbridge Blues* (1984), series, as Gigi
- *The Glory Boys* (1984), series, as Helen
- *Mistral's Daughter* (1984), series, as Lally Longbridge
- *The Weather in the Streets* (1983), as Kate
- *Curse of the Pink Panther* (1983), as Countess Chandra — Fi1m 34, [page](https://film.one/film/curse-of-the-pink-panther.md)
- *Trail of the Pink Panther* (1982), as Marie Jouvet
- *Electric Blue - The Movie* (1982), as (archive footage)
- *The Kenny Everett Television Show* (1982), series, as Various
- *An Audience with Dame Edna Everage* (1980), Actor
- *Electric Blue 002* (1980), as (archive footage)
- *The Plank* (1979), as Hitcher
- *Sapphire & Steel* (1979), series, as Sapphire
- *The New Avengers* (1976), series, as Purdey
- *Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!* (1973), as Miss Parkyn
- *The Satanic Rites of Dracula* (1973), as Jessica Van Helsing
- *Are You Being Served?* (1972), series, as Miss French — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/are-you-being-served.md)
- *A Ghost Story for Christmas* (1971), series, Actor
- *It's Awfully Bad for Your Eyes, Darling* (1971), series, as Samantha Ryder-Ross
- *The House That Dripped Blood* (1971), Actor
- *Games That Lovers Play* (1971), as Fanny Hill
- *The Ballad of Tam Lin* (1970), as Georgia
- *The Breaking of Bumbo* (1970), as Susie
- *On Her Majesty's Secret Service* (1969), as The English Girl — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/on-her-majestys-secret-service.md)
- *Some Girls Do* (1969), as Robot Saboteur (uncredited)
- *Steptoe and Son* (1962), series, as Bunty — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/steptoe-and-son.md)
- *The Avengers* (1961), series, as Purdey — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-avengers-1961.md)

## Gallery

- ![Joanna Lumley](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-5a1ca35a3f89.jpg) Joanna Lumley — Land Rover MENA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Land_Rover_%E2%80%98Defender_2%2C000%2C000%E2%80%99_Sells_for_Record_%C2%A3400%2C000_at_Bonhams_Charity_Auction_%2823776501966%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-000c3d56be4d.jpg) Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/GylesDamesPalladium050323_%2815_of_74%29_%2852728415504%29.jpg/1280px-GylesDamesPalladium050323_%2815_of_74%29_%2852728415504%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-78292671bb5b.jpg) Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/GylesDamesPalladium050323_%2817_of_74%29_%2852728415394%29.jpg/1280px-GylesDamesPalladium050323_%2817_of_74%29_%2852728415394%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-5d6d15aadccb.jpg) Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/GylesDamesPalladium050323_%2818_of_74%29_%2852728160661%29.jpg/1280px-GylesDamesPalladium050323_%2818_of_74%29_%2852728160661%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Joanna Lumley](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-4aebb78d05f7.jpg) Joanna Lumley — Image via TMDB
- ![Joanna Lumley](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-09efe7e18974.jpg) Joanna Lumley — Image via TMDB
- ![Joanna Lumley](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-02017028179f.jpg) Joanna Lumley — Image via TMDB
- ![Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-d9531b5e1c58.jpg) Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/GylesDamesPalladium050323_%2819_of_74%29_%2852728638973%29.jpg/1280px-GylesDamesPalladium050323_%2819_of_74%29_%2852728638973%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-3aa4f15e3a6a.jpg) Gyles Brandreth & Judi Dench & The Dames - London Palladium - Sunday 5th March 2023 — Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/GylesDamesPalladium050323_%281_of_74%29_%2852728574425%29.jpg/1280px-GylesDamesPalladium050323_%281_of_74%29_%2852728574425%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Joanna Lumley](https://film.one/media/person/48197/gallery-382415414fe9.jpg) Joanna Lumley — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### BAFTA Film Awards — 1 won

- 2017: BAFTA Fellowship (won)

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire 2022: Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (won)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play 2011: Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (nominated)
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire 1995: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/joanna-lumley