Art & Hue

Joanna Lumley

Elegant, charming, & funny, it’s no surprise that Dame Joanna Lumley has had such a long and successful career – with her distinctive voice and twinkling eyes, there’s simply no-one else like her.

Since the 1960s onwards, Joanna Lumley has left her mark on each decade in iconic productions that endure to this day, most gaining a cult following and lifelong fan-base.

In 1969, Joanna draped herself elegantly into an armchair on Piz Gloria playing a glamourous Bond-girl in fan-favourite “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service“, which also starred fellow-Avenger Diana Rigg plus Anouska Hempel, Jenny Hanley, Julie Ege, George Baker, Sylvana Henriques, and George Lazenby.

Unlike Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg, Joanna Lumley appeared in a James Bond film before becoming an Avenger and working with the quintessential gentleman, Patrick Macnee as John Steed in “The New Avengers”.

Purdey kicked her way across our screens, and into our hearts, in 1976 with a fashion-forward haircut which sparked a trend, although the producers weren’t happy initially as the publicity photos to promote “The New Avengers” were taken when Joanna had long hair.

Debuting on the HTV channel at 7.50pm on the 17th of October 1976, (then on the Thames channel on the 19th ahead of other ITV networks on the 22nd), Purdey was a strong and modern woman, continuing the legacy of “The Avengers” to empower and inspire young viewers.

One of Joanna’s most unique roles was as a Time-Agent with The Man from Uncle‘s David McCallum in the sci-fi series “Sapphire & Steel”.

Her eerie other-worldly character hitched more fans to the Lumley wagon and with good reason – her captivating performance and shining eyes made the show an instant cult-classic.

Solidifying a reputation as “posh totty” through the 1980s, with memorable appearances in The Pink Panther films, “The Kenny Everett Show” and “Shirley Valentine”, Joanna also made her mark alongside broadcasting legend Terry Wogan, to raise funds for Children in Need, just one of the charitable & social causes she has helped over the years.

It was in the 1990s however that “La Lumley” was finally able to let her comedy talent really shine. Comical sketches on Ruby Wax‘s show “The Full Wax” led to the most perfect casting when Jennifer Saunders created the role of Patsy Stone in the instant-classic, “Absolutely Fabulous“, in the show then the film with June Whitfield, Dame Edna, Kate Moss & Joan Collins.

Patsy Stone, 42, is the tough fashion magazine editor, with Ivana Trump’s beehive hairstyle, who enabled and encouraged Ab Fab Edina Monsoon to shop, drink, smoke, and party, all whilst skiving off work. Living above Oddbins or in Eddie’s utility room, the intimidating “Fash-mag slag” frequently created trouble for all those around her, from falling asleep with a cigarette to selling her friend’s daughter.

The 2000s saw her star in the critically-acclaimed comedy drama “Sensitive Skin” as well as becoming the champion of the Ghurkas, the Nepalese soldiers who fought with the British army, when she joined the Gurkha Justice Campaign.

Her involvement helped secure Ghurkas the right to move to Britain with pensions equality through a high-profile campaign which created comical scenes in Westminster.

When she berated the then-Minister for Immigration, it was as if a teacher was chastising a naughty schoolboy.

In recent years, she has worked with acclaimed director Martin Scorcese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street”, presented documentaries on ITV, travelling to Egypt, Greece, Russia, Iran, and Memphis, Tennessee, to discover more about the King of Rock & Roll, and is the deliciously passive-aggressive mother in “Amandaland”.

It’s testament to Joanna Lumley‘s natural charm that whatever the project, she remains highly watchable, engaging, and enchanting – a true national treasure.