Joanna Lumley
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.
Known For
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014
The Graham Norton Show
2007
The One Show
2006
Champs-Elysées
1982
0Tony Awards
1956
Wednesday
2022
Top Gear
2002
The Avengers
1961
Lewis
2007
Wogan
1982
Wogan
1982
Filmography
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
as Self - Guest · 2009
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as Self · 2014
The Graham Norton Show
as Self · 2007
The One Show
as Self · 2006
Champs-Elysées
as Self · 1982
Tony Awards
as Self - Nominee · 1956
Wednesday
as Grandmama Hester Frump · 2022
Top Gear
as Self · 2002
The Avengers
as Purdey · 1961
Lewis
as Esme Ford · 2007
Wogan
as Self · 1982
Wogan
as Self - Presenter · 1982
Summer Camp Island
as Adult Susie (voice) · 2018
Eurovision Song Contest
as Self - Spokesperson · 1956
Corpse Bride
as Maudeline Everglot (voice) · 2005
The Last Leg
as Self · 2013
Agatha Christie's Marple
as Dolly Bantry · 2004
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
as Self · 2022
Parkinson
as Self · 1998
An Audience with...
as Self · 1978
The Wolf of Wall Street
as Aunt Emma · 2013
Absolutely Fabulous
as Patsy Stone · 1992
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
as Self - Guest Announcer · 2002
Me Before You
as Mary Rawlinson · 2016
RuPaul's Drag Race UK
as Self - Guest Judge · 2019
Parkinson
as Self - Guest · 2004
Going Live!
as Self · 1987
Celebrity Gogglebox
as Self · 2019
Celebrity Gogglebox
· 2019
The BAFTA Awards
as Host · 1949
The New Avengers
as Purdey · 1976
Paddington 2
as Felicity Fanshaw · 2017
Lovejoy
as Victoria Cavero · 1986
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse
as Narrator (voice) · 2020
Fool Me Once
as Judith Burkett · 2024
Are You Being Served?
as Miss French · 1972
Car S.O.S.
as Herself · 2013
Blankety Blank
· 2021
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
as The English Girl · 1969
Steptoe and Son
as Bunty · 1962
Challenge Anneka
as Self · 1989
Ella Enchanted
as Dame Olga · 2004
Sapphire & Steel
as Sapphire · 1979
EuroTrip
as Hostel Clerk · 2004
Motherland
as Felicity · 2017
Roseanne
as Patsy Stone · 1988
The Kenny Everett Television Show
as Various · 1982
Children In Need
as Self · 1980
A Ghost Story for Christmas
· 1971
James and the Giant Peach
as Aunt Spiker · 1996
Jam and Jerusalem
as Delilah Stagg · 2006
The Foxbusters
as Sims / Evita / Voracity (voice) · 1999
Amandaland
as Felicity · 2025
Cluedo
as Mrs. Peacock · 1990
Mistresses
as Vivienne Roden · 2008
Mistral's Daughter
as Lally Longbridge · 1984
Absolutely Anything
as Fenella · 2015
Trail of the Pink Panther
as Marie Jouvet · 1982
The Mrs Merton Show
as Self · 1995
Coming Home
as Diana Carey-Lewis · 1998
Alice in Wonderland
as Tiger Lily (voice) · 1999
She's Funny That Way
as Vivian Claremont · 2015
Britain's Busiest Airport: Heathrow
as Narrator (voice) · 2015
Comic Relief
· 1988
Sensitive Skin
as Davina Jackson · 2005
Oxbridge Blues
as Gigi · 1984
The Great Comic Relief Bake Off
as Self - Contestant · 2013
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
as Jessica Van Helsing · 1973
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
as Patsy Stone · 2016
The Magic Roundabout
as Ermintrude (voice) · 2005
The Forgotten Toys
as Annie (voice) · 1997
It's Awfully Bad for Your Eyes, Darling
as Samantha Ryder-Ross · 1971
Curse of the Pink Panther
as Countess Chandra · 1983
Finding Alice
as Sarah Dillon · 2021
Plunder
· 1990
Some Girls Do
as Robot Saboteur (uncredited) · 1969
Justin Lee Collins: Good Times
as Self · 2010
David Frost Vs
as self · 2025
Class Act
as Kate Swift · 1994
Boogie Woogie
as Mrs. Alfreda Rhinegold · 2010
My Dad's the Prime Minister
· 2003
The Michael McIntyre Chat Show
as Self - Guest · 2014
Joanna Lumley's Great Cities of the World
as Self - Presenter · 2022
Rosie Jones' Trip Hazard
as Narrator · 2021
Prince Valiant
as Morgan Le Fey · 1997
The House That Dripped Blood
· 1971
Finding Your Feet
as Jackie · 2017
The Cat's Meow
as Elinor Glyn · 2002
Innocent Lies
as Lady Helena Graves · 1995
A Bucket O' French and Saunders
· 2007
The Glory Boys
as Helen · 1984
Falling for Figaro
as Meghan Geoffrey-Bishop · 2021
Late Night Lycett
as Self - Guest · 2023
Shirley Valentine
as Marjorie Majors · 1989
Stories of Lost Souls
as Last in Line · 2004
Carnage: Swallowing the Past
as Herself (voice) · 2017
Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime
as Self · 2020
Final Chance to Save
as Herself · 2005
The National Television Awards Backstage Live
· 2010
The Ballad of Tam Lin
as Georgia · 1970
Joanna Lumley's Silk Road Adventure
as Self - Presenter · 2018
Live from Studio Five
as Self · 2009
Standing Room Only
as Last in line · 2004
Cold Comfort Farm
as Mary Smiling · 1995
Netflix Tudum 2025
as Self · 2025
Coming Home
as Diana Carey-Lewis · 1998
Maybe Baby
as Shiela · 2000
A Ghost in Monte Carlo
as Lady Drayton · 1990
Dr Willoughby
as Donna Sinclair · 1999
Whispers: An Elephant's Tale
as Half Tusk (voice) · 2000
Nancherrow
· 1999
And the Winner Isn't
as Self · 2017
Doctor Who: The Curse of Fatal Death
as The Female Doctor · 1999
British Sitcom: 60 Years of Laughing at Ourselves
as Comedy Role (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2016
Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure
as Self - Presenter · 2015
Up in Town
as Madison Blakelock · 2002
Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
as Patsy Stone · 1996
Joanna Lumley's Unseen Adventures
as Cast · 2020
Electric Blue - The Movie
as (archive footage) · 1982
Jewels of the Med
as Self - Narrator (voice) · 2025
The Tale of Sweeney Todd
as Mrs. Lovett · 1998
Gangsta Granny
as The Queen · 2013
Frank and Percy
· 2026
Joanna Lumley's Spice Trail Adventure
as Self - Presenter · 2023
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
as Narrator (voice) · 2014
The Picture of Dorian Gray
as Lady Narborough · 2021
The Missing Crown Jewels
as Self · 2017
Posh Nosh
as Narrator (voice) · 2003
How to Be Absolutely Fabulous
as Patsy Stone (archive footage) · 1995
Joanna Lumley's Japan
as Herself · 2016
Parting Shots
as Freda · 1999
The Weather in the Streets
as Kate · 1983
Absolutely Fabulous: Inside Out
as Self / Patricia "Patsy" Stone · 2024
Betjeman and Me
· 2006
Twiggy
as Self · 2025
Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!
as Miss Parkyn · 1973
Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers
as Self - Presenter · 2017
A Rather English Marriage
as Liz Franks · 1998
Spike Milligan: The Unseen Archive
as Self - Friend · 2022
Absolutely Fabulous: A Life
as Patsy Stone (archive footage) · 1998
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
as Miss French (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2005
Attenborough at 90
as Self · 2016
20 Years of the Black Eyed Peas
as Herself - Host · 2018
Joanna Lumley's Britain
as Self - Host · 2021
The Making of a Lady
as Lady Maria Byrne · 2012
The Breaking of Bumbo
as Susie · 1970
Joanna Lumley's Danube
as Self - Host · 2025
imagine... French & Saunders: Pointed, Bitchy, Bitter
as Self · 2023
Late Bloomers
as Charlotte · 2011
My Week with Maisy
as Mrs. Foster · 2024
Coronation Street: 60 Unforgettable Years
as Narrator · 2020
In the Best Possible Taste: A Tribute to Kenny Everett
as Sketch Performer (Archive Footage) · 1995
Mad Cows
as Gillian · 1999
Joanna Lumley: Elvis and Me
as Self · 2015
Games That Lovers Play
as Fanny Hill · 1971
An Audience with Dame Edna Everage
· 1980
The Genius of Roald Dahl
as Herself · 2012
Quentin Blake – The Drawing of My Life
as Self · 2021
Joanna Lumley's India
as Herself · 2017
Joanna Lumley Meets Will.I.Am
as Presenter · 2014
The House of Clemens
as Self · 2025
A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower
as Mrs Stone · 2025
Joanna Lumley’s Home Sweet Home – Travels in My Own Land
· 2021
The Forgotten Toys
as Annie (voice) · 1995
The Snowman Live Stage Show
as Narrator · 2010
7 Up & Me
as Narrator (voice) · 2019
Philip and Elizabeth
· 2006
The Plank
as Hitcher · 1979
The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out
as Self · 2021
Joanna Lumley's Postcards
· 2017
The Man You're Not
as Joanna Lumley · 2017
Joanna Lumley's Hidden Caribbean: Havana to Haiti
as Herself - Presenter · 2020
Nancherrow
as Diana Carey-Lewis · 1999
Saturday Knight Takeaway
as Self · 2018
Bette Midler: One Night Only
as Self - Host · 2014
Mirrorball
as Jackie Riviera · 2000
My Favourite Attenborough Moment
as Self · 2006
Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey
as Herself · 2011
Ian Fleming: Where Bond Began
as Herself · 2008
Jewel of the Med: Majorca and Menorca
as Self - Narrator (voice) · 2025
Joanna Lumley in the Kingdom of the Thunderdragon
as Herself · 1997
Joanna Lumley and the Human Swan
as Presenter · 2021
Wogan on Wodehouse
as Self · 2011
Counting Tigers
as Narrator (voice) · 2019
The Friday Night Project
as Self - Host · 2005
Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights
as Herself · 2008
Joanna Lumley: My Best Bits - In My Own Words
as Self · 2023
Girl Friday
as Presenter · 1994
Counting Out Time
as Herself · 2007
Joanna Lumley: The Search for Noah's Ark
as Herself - Presenter · 2012
In Search of Dracula
as Herself · 2020
Electric Blue 002
as (archive footage) · 1980