Joanna Lumley - Biography

In a nutshell

Although you might think she's the 'best of British', she's not exactly. Born in Kashmir, India, Joanna Lumley moved to Kent in 1947 after the independence of India with her parents, James and Beatrice.

After leaving school Joanna decided to become a doctor. No, of course not! She went on to become a photographic model (no, not a Jordan of her day, before you ask) before making her first TV appearance in a bread advert.

If you're old (or 'young at heart') you might remember Joanna turning up in Coronation Street where she turned down Ken Barlow's marriage proposal. What was she thinking?! Although if she hadn't we might not have had Deidre Barlow to laugh at for all these years...

This aside, Joanna's first proper role was in The New Avengers. Although this was a revival of an old show (something that's happening more and more at the moment) and didn't go down particularly well with critics, you can still judge it a success because Joanna's hairstyle quickly became a legend in its own right, much like the 'Rachel cut' from Friends.

Our favourite Lumley role isn't the insurance adverts but as champagne-loving, chain-smoking Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous. This was produced between 1992 and 2005, finding millions of adoring fans.

Continuing her relationship with Jennifer Saunders, she also appeared in BBC sitcom Jam & Jerusalem with Dawn French and Sue Johnston. We didn't like it much.

You might have seen Joanna in the news during 2008 when she faced a campaign to provide Gurkha veterans with the right to settle in Britain, something which she continues to work on.

Joanna Lumley married conductor Stephen Barlow in 1986 and they currently live in London.

Did you know?