History Creator / JoannaLumley

Her acting career began in 1969 with a small role in the film ''[[Literature/BulldogDrummond Some Girls Do]]'' and as a [[GirloftheWeek Bond Girl]] in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService''. She became a star in the UK in the late 1970s thanks to two leading TV roles, first as ActionGirl Purdey in ''Series/TheNewAvengers'', a DarkerAndEdgier {{Revival}} of ''Series/{{The Avengers|1960s}}'', and second as the [[BlueAndOrangeMorality questionably benevolent]] HumanoidAbomination Sapphire in ''Series/SapphireAndSteel''. Her second period of major fame came in the 1990s when she starred with Creator/JenniferSaunders in ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous''.

* ''Film/JamesAndTheGiantPeach'' (1996) as Aunt Spiker

* ''Film/WhispersAnElephantsTale'' (2000) as Half Tusk (voice)

* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Magic Roundabout|2005}}'' (2005) as Ermintrude (voice)
* ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'' (2005) as Maudeline Everglot (voice)

* ''Film/Paddington2'' (2017) as Felicity Fanshawe

* ''Radio/ConversationsFromALongMarriage'': Joanna
* ''AudioPlay/TheSandman2020'': Johanna Constantine

* ''WesternAnimation/TheMagicRoundabout'' (2005)

Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley, [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever DBE, FRGS]] is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, whose career has spanned over four decades. She was born on 1 May 1946 in Srinagar, India, which was then part of UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire.

Her acting career began in 1969 with a small role in the film ''[[Literature/BulldogDrummond Some Girls Do]]'' and as a [[GirloftheWeek Bond Girl]] in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService''. She became a star in the UK in the late 1970s thanks to two leading TV roles, first as ActionGirl Purdey in ''Series/TheNewAvengers'', a DarkerAndEdgier {{Revival}} of ''Series/{{The Avengers|1960s}}'', and second as the [[BlueAndOrangeMorality questionably benevolent]] HumanoidAbomination Sapphire in ''Series/SapphireAndSteel''. Her second period of major fame came in the 1990s when she starred with Creator/JenniferSaunders in ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous''. Joanna Lumley has also starred in a number of documentaries about exotic places in the world, travelling the breadth of the River Nile to ancient Egyptian tombs. She has become well known for her distinctive, breathless way of speaking and cut glass UsefulNotes/{{British Accent|s}} and as such voices AOL mail.

* ''Some Girls Do'' (1969)

Her acting career began in 1969 with a small role in the film ''[[Literature/BulldogDrummond Some Girls Do]]'' and as a [[GirloftheWeek Bond Girl]] in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService''. She became a star in the UK in the late 1970s thanks to two leading TV roles, first as ActionGirl Purdey in ''Series/TheNewAvengers'', a DarkerAndEdgier {{Revival}} of ''Series/{{The Avengers|1960s}}'', and second as the [[BlueAndOrangeMorality questionably benevolent]] HumanoidAbomination Sapphire in ''Series/SapphireAndSteel''. Her second period of major fame came in the 1990s when she starred with Jennifer Saunders in ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous''. Joanna Lumley has also starred in a number of documentaries about exotic places in the world, travelling the breadth of the River Nile to ancient Egyptian tombs. She has become well known for her distinctive, breathless way of speaking and cut glass UsefulNotes/{{British Accent|s}} and as such voices AOL mail.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: When ''Series/DoctorWho'' creator Creator/SydneyNewman was brought in by the BBC in 1986 to come up with a way of {{retool}}ing the show, he suggested having the Doctor regenerate into a female incarnation (after briefly having Creator/PatrickTroughton back for one season), with Lumley being one of his top picks. However, discussions with the network's Head of Drama fell through, and the show wouldn't have a female Doctor until Creator/JodieWhittaker was cast as the Thirteenth Doctor. Lumley would, however, briefly play a female Doctor in the 1999 official parody [[Recap/DoctorWhoTheCurseOfFatalDeath "The Curse of Fatal Death"]].

!!Notable radio roles:

Her acting career began in 1969 with a small role in the film ''[[Literature/BulldogDrummond Some Girls Do]]'' and as a [[GirloftheWeek Bond Girl]] in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService''. She became a star in the UK in the late 1970s thanks to two leading TV roles, first as ActionGirl Purdey in ''Series/TheNewAvengers'', a DarkerAndEdgier {{Revival}} of ''Series/{{The Avengers|1960s}}'', and second as the [[BlueAndOrangeMorality questionably benevolent]] HumanoidAbomination Sapphire in ''Series/SapphireAndSteel''. Her second period of major fame came in the 1990s when she starred with Jennifer Saunders in ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous''. Joanna Lumley has also starred in a number of documentaries about exotic places in the world, travelling the breadth of the River Nile to ancient Egyptian tombs. She has become well known for her distinctive, breathless way of speaking and UsefulNotes/{{British Accent|s}} and as such voices AOL mail.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: She was lined up to be the first [[Series/DoctorWho female Doctor]], but the BBC ultimately axed the idea.

* StatuesqueStunner: At 5'8", she towers above her ''Absolutely Fabulous'' co-stars Jennifer Saunders and Julia Sawalha.

* Usefulnotes/NepaliWithNastyKnives: In 2008, she attracted much attention in the British media for her high-profile support for the rights of Gurkhas -- leading to her being considered a "national treasure" of Nepal. Specifically, she was campaigning for Gurkhas who had served in the British Army prior to 1997 to be allowed to settle in Britain [[note]] those serving since 1997 had already been granted that right, but it wasn't extended to all Gurkhas; thanks to Joanna's campaign, all Gurkha's who served for at least four years prior to 1997 now have the right[[/note]]. Her father, an Army officer, had commanded a Gurkha unit during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, and she has clearly taken the family connection very seriously.

* Usefulnotes/NepaliWithNastyKnives: She has become well known in the British Media for protesting for the rights of Gurkhas -- and she is considered a "national treasure" of Nepal because of her support. (Her father was the commanding officer of a Gurkha unit in World War II, and she evidently takes the family connection seriously.)

Joanna Lamond Lumley, [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever OBE, FRGS]] is a British actress, voice-over artist, former-model and author, whose career has spanned over four decades. She was born on 1 May 1946 in Srinagar, India, which was then part of UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire.