Tuesday 2 October 2012

Joanna Lumley - Wonderful Woman No. 132


Joanna Lumley - Born 1946
British Actress, Model, Television Presenter, Writer and Political Activist

Added to the album by Howie, A Wonderful Man


Like so many of the women in this album, labelling Joanna Lumley as one thing or another is impossible. Her career has been rich and varied, and she has actively campaigned and supported causes in which she believes. I have read several newspaper ariticles about her over the last few day, in preparation for writing this blog post, a phrase that is repeated over and over again is national treasure, for once, I feel this reference is spot on.

Joanna's started her career as a photographic model in the 1960s. At the end of the '60s, she moved on to work in acting, her first role in the film Some Girls Do. She has since appeared in numerous films, including On Her Majesty's Secret Service where she joined the prestigious list of actresses who have played Bond Girls. Predominantly, Joanna's most famous roles have been on television, among her many roles she briefly appeared in Britain's most loved soap Coronation Street, played Purdey in The New Avengers - for which she won a BAFTA award and in 1992, she burst onto television screens as the unforgettable Patsy in Jennifer Saunders' (Wonderful Woman No. 92) Absolutely Fabulous, a role she played for more than a decade and for which she recieved a further two BAFTA awards. She is also credited with numerous theatre roles throughout her lengthy career.

As well as appearing on television as an actress, Joanna has made numerous documentaries from around the globe. She has also written several books, including a number of personal memoirs.

Joanna supports and champions a number of charities and campaigns, she is patron of a number of charities and speaks out about the causes she holds dear. Most famously, Joanna was the face of the campaign to give
Ghurka veterans the right to settle in Great Britain. This particular fight was very personal to Joanna, her grandfather, Colonel Leslie Weir, was a political officer of the British Raj in India, who travelled extensively in Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet, was friends with the 13th Dalai Lama and her father, Major James Lumley, was an officer in the Gurkha Rifles, indeed Joanna was born in India due to her father's position and was brought up in Hong Kong and Malaysia because of the Gurkha regiment. After a very public battle with the UK government, during which Joanna spoke passionately and fought tirelessly, the mandate was announced for all Gurkha veterans who had served four years or more in the British Army before 1997 to be allowed to settle in Britain. Joanna describes this as her most humbling experience and the proudest moment of her life.

Joanna is a particular Wonderful Woman, one we can celebrate like many of the others, for her fantastic career which is still going though now in it's sixth decade, for her zest for life and individuality but also one who has took her fame and notoriety and used it for the good of others, who has stood firm on causes she is really passionate about... and that, is truly wonderful

If you're an enthusiast and you love the world like I do, it comes naturally. But I think charity must become more fun to give, more interactive and imaginative.
Joanna Lumley

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