Joanna Lumley Biography Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley DBE born May 1, 1946 is a British actress, presenter, former model, author, television producer, and activist. She is best known for her role as Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012), for which she won two BAFTA TV Awards. Lumley was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play in 2011 for her performance in the Broadway revival of La Bête. In 2013, she received the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards, and in 2017, she was honored with the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship award. Lumley’s other notable television appearances include The New Avengers (1976–1977), Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982), Sensitive Skin (2005–2007), Jam & Jerusalem (2006–2008), and Finding Alice (2021–present). She also portrayed Elaine Perkins in Coronation Street in 1973.
Joanna Lumley Biography
Joanna Lumley was born on May 1, 1946, in Kashmir, India, to British parents, Thyra Beatrice Rose (Weir) and James Rutherford Lumley. Her father, a major in the Gurkha Rifles, had postings in the Far East, where Lumley spent much of her early childhood. Initially aspiring to act, Lumley gained fame as a model during London’s vibrant 1960s fashion scene. She was photographed by renowned photographers, including her close friend, the late Patrick Lichfield. For several years, she served as the muse and house model for designer Jean Muir before establishing herself as a freelance model, eventually becoming one of the top ten most-booked models of the 1960s. Lumley’s breakthrough role came in 1976 when she was cast as Purdey in The New Avengers, a part that attracted over 800 auditioning actresses.
Joanna Lumley Biography Details
| Born | Joanna Lamond Lumley 1 May 1946 (age 78) Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupations | Actress author activist presenter model producer |
| Years active | 1967–present |
| Television | Coronation Street The New Avengers Sapphire & Steel Absolutely Fabulous Finding Alice |
| Spouses | Jeremy Lloyd (m. 1970; div. 1971) Stephen Barlow (m. 1986) |
| Partner | Michael Claydon (1960s) |
| Children | 1 |
| Category | Singers Bio |
About Joanna Lumley
Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley DBE is a British actress, presenter, former model, author, television producer and activist.
- Born: 1 May 1946 (age 78 years), Srinagar
- Spouse: Stephen Barlow (m. 1986), Jeremy Lloyd (m. 1970–1971)
- Children: Jamie Lumley
- Grandchildren: Emily Kate Lumley, Alice Daisy Lumley
- Height: 73 m
- Siblings: Aelene Frey
Early Life
Joanna Lumley was born in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (now in India), on May 1, 1946. Her mother, Thyra Beatrice Rose (née Weir), was English, and her grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Weir, was an army officer in Kashmir and a close friend of the 13th Dalai Lama. Her father, Major James Rutherford Lumley, was born in Lahore (now part of Pakistan) and served as an officer in the British Indian Army’s 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles during World War II.
Lumley spent her early years in the tropics but moved to England with her family when she was young. She attended Mickledene School in Rolvenden, Kent, from age eight, and later Holmhurst St Mary’s Convent School in the hills behind Hastings, where she stayed from ages 11 to 17. Lumley described her time at the convent school as a happy and fulfilling experience. She then attend the Lucie Clayton Finishing School in London after being reject by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art at 16.
Joanna Lumley at a Glance
Category: Richest Celebrities › Actors
Net Worth: $25 Million
Birthdate: May 1, 1946 (78 years old)
Birthplace: Srinagar, India
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Profession: Model, Actor, Voice Actor, Television Producer, Author, Spokesperson, Comedian
Nationality: British
Rise to Fame
In 1976, Lumley became a household name when she was cast as Purdey in The New Avengers, a revival of the 1960s series The Avengers. She followed this with a role in the supernatural series Sapphire & Steel in 1979, further cementing her place in British television. However, Lumley’s true claim to fame came with her role as the eccentric fashion director Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012). The show became a cultural phenomenon and earned her multiple accolades, including two BAFTA TV Awards.
Beyond her work on Absolutely Fabulous, Lumley starred in Class Act (1994–1995) and was nominate for a BAFTA for her role in A Rather English Marriage (1999). She also lent her distinctive voice to animated films, including Corpse Bride (2005) and James and the Giant Peach (1996), and voiced various projects such as the Foxbusters TV series.
Television Travelogues
In addition to acting, Lumley has become known for her travel documentaries, which she has presented and produced for ITV. These travelogues include Joanna Lumley’s Nile (2010), Joanna Lumley’s Greek Odyssey (2009), and Joanna Lumley’s Trans-Siberian Adventure (2015), where she explored the famous 6,400-mile route from Hong Kong to Moscow. Her other travel documentaries have taken her across Japan, along the Silk Road, and on the search for Noah’s Ark.
Activism
Joanna Lumley is renown for her advocacy work, especially for the Gurkhas, the indigenous Khonds of India, and the exiled Tibetan people. In 2008, she became the public face of the Gurkha Justice Campaign, which fought for the right of Nepalese-origin Gurkha veterans to settle in the UK.
She is also a strong supporter of Survival International, a human rights group, and has narrated documentaries for the organization, including Mine: Story of a Sacred Mountain. Additionally, Lumley is a patron of various charities, including Population Matters, Tree Aid, and the Born Free Foundation. She has even established the Lumley Research Fellowship at the University of Oxford to support young scholars researching environmental issues in Africa.
Personal Life
Joanna Lumley has a son, James, from her relationship with Michael Claydon. She was briefly married to actor Jeremy Lloyd in 1970 before marrying opera conductor Stephen Barlow in 1986. They currently live in London and also own a cottage in the Southern Uplands of Scotland.
Honors
Lumley has received several honorary degrees, including from the University of Kent and the University of St. Andrews. In 1995, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and was later made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her contributions to drama, entertainment, and charity work in the 2022 New Year Honours.
What Is Joanna Lumley Net Worth 2025?
Joanna Lumley, a British actress and producer, has an estimated net worth of $25 million. She is best known for her iconic role as Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, a role that earn her two BAFTA TV Awards. Apart from acting, Lumley is a vocal human rights activist, supporting numerous charities, and advocating for animal welfare.