Joanna Lumley was born in Kashmir in 1946 and came to England as a young girl to complete her schooling at St Mary’s School in Sussex. She spent three years as a photographic model finally becoming a house model for the late Jean Muir. Her early films included: Some... Read more
Joanna Lumley was born in Kashmir in 1946 and came to England as a young girl to complete her schooling at St Mary’s School in Sussex.
She spent three years as a photographic model finally becoming a house model for the late Jean Muir. Her early films included:
Some Girls Do (1968)
On her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
two Pink Panther films The Trail of the Pink Panther and The Curse of the Pink Panther (both 1982)
The Satanic Rights of Dracula (1973)
Shirley Valentine (1988)
Most recent films include:
James and the Giant Peach (1994)
Sweeney Todd (1997)
Mad Cows (1998)
Maybe Baby (1999)
Magic Roundabout (voice), Corpse Bride (voice) (2007)
Early television work includes “Steptoe and Son”, “The Persuaders”, “General Hospital” and “Coronation Street”.
Joanna Lumley played “Purdey” in twenty-four episodes of “The New Avengers” and recorded thirty-four episodes of “Sapphire and Steel” both programmes are constantly being transmitted world-wide.
Her experiences of living alone on a desert island were filmed for a BBC Special “Girl Friday”.
Joanna is probably best known on television for her hugely popular role of ‘Patsy’ in the award winning series “Absolutely Fabulous” for the BBC. Other recent television includes: “Class Act” (2 series) for Carlton; “Coming Home” and “Nancherrow” (both 2 part dramas) for Portman.
In 1996 she travelled to Bhutan to film a journey made by her grandparents “In The Kingdom Of The Thunder Dragon”; “A Rather English Marriage” (nominated for a BAFTA as Best Actress in a Drama – 1999) and “Dr Willoughby” for Pearson.
2002 saw Joanna Lumley recreate her ‘Patsy’ role in “Absolutely Fabulous” and then again in 2011 and 2012.
In January 2005 she filmed a new series for Baby Cow entitled “Sensitive Skin” followed by a one hour special about the plight of the orang-utan for Tiger Aspect. In 2006 she filmed “Jam and Jerusalem” and a second series of “Sensitive Skin”.
She has written five books ”Stare Back and Smile” (autobiography) “Forces Sweethearts”; “Girl Friday” and “In The Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon” both from the BBC films. Her latest book “No Room For Secrets” was published in October 2004.
Among the many charities she supports are The Princes’s Trust, SightSavers, The Born Free Foundation, Thames Reach Bondway, Ataxia and The Gurkha Welfare Trust.
Joanna Lumley is a self-confessed Bond fan and of his creator Ian Fleming, being very proud of her role as a ‘Bond Girl’.
In April 2009 she became the spokeswoman for the Gurkhas in the UK and was instrumental in persuading the British government to allow Gurkhas who had served in the Army the right to settle in the UK. When she visited Nepal in July 2009 she was treated as a heroine and a goddess by crowds of people on the street, and was thanked by Nepal’s President and Prime Minister for her work in championing the Gurkhas’ cause.
Joanna Lumley was awarded an OBE in the 1995 New Years Honours. She is married to the conductor Stephen Barlow and lives in London.
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You can book Joanna Lumley through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Joanna's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Joanna Lumley's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Joanna tailored to your event.
Joanna Lumley speaks on Celebrities, Arts & Culture, Celebrity. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Joanna to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Joanna Lumley for events worldwide, subject to Joanna's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Joanna Lumley is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Joanna can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Joanna Lumley on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Joanna can offer.
Joanna Lumley delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Joanna Lumley's areas of expertise include Celebrities, Arts & Culture, Celebrity. To get a clear sense of Joanna's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Joanna Lumley can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Celebrities, Arts & Culture, Celebrity is relevant. Details of Joanna's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Joanna Lumley is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Joanna Lumley, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Joanna's current availability for your dates.