Line #51 Creator/JoannaLumley


1	[[quoteright:256:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jo_7613.jpg]]
2
3	->''"I find it a great antidote... lipstick and mirrors and hairspray."''
4	-->-- ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous''
5
6	Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley, [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever DBE, FRGS]] is a British actress, voice-over artist, author and former model, whose career has spanned over four decades. She was born on 1 May 1946 in Srinagar, India, which was then part of UsefulNotes/TheBritishEmpire.
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8	Her acting career began in 1969 with a small role in the film ''[[Literature/BulldogDrummond Some Girls Do]]'', as a [[GirloftheWeek Bond Girl]] in ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'', and as Samantha Ryder-Ross in ''Series/ItsAwfullyBadForYourEyesDarling''. 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''.
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10	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 is the female voice of AOL mail (the male voice being provided by Elwood Edwards).
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12	----
13	!!Filmography:
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15	* ''[[Literature/BulldogDrummond Some Girls Do]]'' (1969)
16	* ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'' (1969)
17	* ''The Breaking of Bumbo'' (1970)
18	* ''Games That Lovers Play'' (1970)
19	* ''Tam-Lin'' (1970)
20	* ''Film/TheHouseThatDrippedBlood'' (1971)
21	* ''Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!'' (1971)
22	* ''Film/TheSatanicRitesOfDracula'' (1971)
23	* ''Film/TrailOfThePinkPanther'' (1982)
24	* ''Film/CurseOfThePinkPanther'' (1983)
25	* ''Film/ShirleyValentine'' (1989)
26	* ''Cold Comfort Farm'' (1995)
27	* ''Innocent Lies'' (1995)
28	* ''WesternAnimation/TheForgottenToys'' (1995)
29	* ''Film/JamesAndTheGiantPeach'' (1996)
30	* ''Film/{{Prince Valiant\|1997}}'' (1997)
31	* ''Film/PartingShots'' (1999)
32	* ''Mad Cows'' Gillian (1999)
33	* ''Maybe Baby'' (2000)
34	* ''Film/WhispersAnElephantsTale'' (2000)
35	* ''Film/TheCatsMeow'' (2001)
36	* ''Standing Room Only'' (2004)
37	* ''Film/EuroTrip'' (2004)
38	* ''Film/EllaEnchanted'' (2004)
39	* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Magic Roundabout\|2005}}'' (2005)
40	* ''WesternAnimation/CorpseBride'' (2005)
41	* ''Dolls'' (2006)
42	* ''Boogie Woogie'' (2009)
43	* ''This Beautiful Fantastic'' (2010)
44	* ''Film/TheWolfOfWallStreet'' (2013)
45	* ''Film/Paddington2'' (2017)
46	* ''Late Bloomers'' (TBA)
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48	!!Notable television roles:
49	* ''Series/ItsAwfullyBadForYourEyesDarling'' (1971)
50	* ''Series/TheNewAvengers'' (1976-77)
51	* ''Series/SapphireAndSteel'' (1979-1982)
52	* ''Coming Home'' (1998) (mini-series)
53	* ''Recap/DoctorWhoTheCurseOfFatalDeath'' (1999), briefly playing [[Series/DoctorWho the Doctor]]
54	* ''Sensitive Skin'' (2005-2006)
55	* ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous'' (1992-2012)
56	* ''Series/{{Lewis}}'', episode "[[Recap/LewisS3E4 Counter Culture Blues]]" (2009)
57	* ''Series/FoolMeOnce'' (2024) as Judith Burkett
58
59	!!Notable audio roles:
60	* ''Radio/ConversationsFromALongMarriage''
61	* ''AudioPlay/TheSandman2020''
62
63	!!Tropes associated with this actress include:
64	* BrainyBrunette: She invoked this when transitioning from modelling to acting, dyeing her hair brown to be taken more seriously.
65	* LeslieNielsenSyndrome:[[invoked]] Since ''Series/AbsolutelyFabulous'', she became more likely to show up in comedies or parodying her previous image.
66	* 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 Gurkhas 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.
67	* StatuesqueStunner: At 5'8", she towers above her ''Absolutely Fabulous'' co-stars Creator/JenniferSaunders and Creator/JuliaSawalha.
68	* TheOtherDarrin: In ''Film/TheSatanicRitesOfDracula'' she played the role of Jessica Van Helsing, originated by Stephanie Beacham in ''Dracula A.D. 1972''.
69	* 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 in 2017. Lumley would, however, briefly play a female Doctor in the 1999 official parody [[Recap/DoctorWhoTheCurseOfFatalDeath "The Curse of Fatal Death"]].

Context Creator / JoannaLumley