British acting legend Geraldine James: “I’m endlessly cast as The B***h”

by

Geraldine James laughs, admitting she often finds herself playing unpleasant characters. “I’m always cast as the villain,” she says with a sigh, “and honestly, I don’t know why!” She pauses, pretending to be puzzled. “I really can’t figure it out.”

Over a career spanning five decades, actress James has often portrayed complex and formidable female characters, like Lady Maud in ‘Blott on the Landscape’ and Milner in the thrilling series ‘Utopia’. While she’s said she’s moved on from playing those types of roles, they, along with her many other performances, have established her as a leading expert in British drama at bringing ‘difficult’ women to life – characters who are strong, often reserved, and carry hidden depths and complicated histories.

In Penelope Lively’s novel, Moon Tiger, which has been adapted for Radio 4 by Kate Clanchy, actress James portrays Claudia Hampton, a historian whose life story unfolds as she nears death. Claudia is a complex character – undeniably clever, but also self-centered, stubborn, and often unkind, especially to her estranged and hurt daughter, Lisa, who is at her bedside hoping to understand her mother’s lifelong emotional distance. She’s certainly a challenging, and perhaps even unpleasant, character.

“She’s not long for this world, so why would she try to please anyone now?” James wondered. He felt it was heartbreaking that she had trouble even being nice, but he still found her relatable and genuine. He wasn’t sure everyone would feel the same way, though. He realized she wasn’t acting how a man might expect a woman to act.

Penelope Lively’s Moon Tiger weaves together Claudia’s life story, moving between wartime Egypt, past romances, difficult family relationships, and even a forbidden connection. The novel delves into themes of memory, history, what we expect from life, and the feelings of regret and isolation that can come with age. As James observes, “As we get older, our memories become vast, offering a lifetime of experiences to revisit and reflect upon.”

The actor is full of enthusiasm after a day of rehearsals for a play exploring similar themes to ‘Moon Tiger’. Their new production, ‘In 45 Years’, which premieres at Chichester Festival Theatre on June 12th, follows Kate (played by James) and Geoff (Gabriel Byrne) as they prepare for their 45th anniversary. Their plans are disrupted when Geoff receives a letter revealing the discovery of his former lover’s body in the Swiss Alps, forcing them to confront the history of their relationship.

James, who is celebrating her 40th wedding anniversary this year with her husband, actor and director Joseph Blatchley, explains that the play is becoming richer and more complex as they rehearse it – a testament to the quality of the writing. She also notes that there are now more compelling roles available for actresses her age than there were a decade ago, and she’s recently been fortunate enough to play some wonderful characters.

What’s behind this change in perspective? I used to jokingly say that actresses like Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Helen Mirren simply happened to be successful. But it’s true – they are exceptional. Helen Mirren continues to reinvent herself and deliver amazing performances, even at 80. Maggie Smith created a memorable character in Downton Abbey at a similar age, and Judi Dench is consistently brilliant. People clearly admire them, just like they admired the Queen. And I also have to mention David Attenborough – he’s incredible, even at 100!

James recalls being told in her thirties that she didn’t have much time left. For a while, that felt very real. Things slowed down considerably when she turned fifty, but since reaching sixty, she’s felt a surprising sense of joy and energy, thinking, ‘Wow, this is fantastic!’

Want to see this content?

This page uses a security feature called Google reCAPTCHA. Before it loads, we need your permission because it might use cookies. By selecting ‘Accept and continue,’ you’ll allow reCAPTCHA to work and help keep the site secure.

Perhaps the secret to her long career is her unwillingness to be typecast. After finding fame in The Jewel in the Crown, she received countless offers to play similar, privileged young women. “I was getting ten scripts a day for posh girls,” she recalls. Thankfully, her agent encouraged her to take on different roles, which led her to play the worried mother figure, Rose, in the drama Band of Gold. Her skill is evident in her ability to convincingly portray characters from all walks of life – she’s just as captivating as a deaf prostitute in Dummy (1977) as she is the strong-willed farmer Marilla Cuthbert in the Anne with an E reboot.

She describes a guiding principle in her life: a desire to constantly evolve and never remain static. This resistance to settling likely comes from a feeling of being disconnected from her upbringing. Growing up as Geraldine Thomas and attending boarding school, she felt uncomfortable with her advantages and didn’t fit into the school’s strict social structure. As a child, she’d watch the tower blocks of West London from the train and fantasize about a more connected and welcoming life, feeling as though she was living someone else’s life instead of her own.

Attending drama school was a turning point for her. After being turned down by Rada, she enrolled at Drama Centre London, and felt like she’d finally found where she belonged. She describes it as a formative experience that helped her understand herself, realizing, “I’m an actor.”

I’m such a fan, and it’s amazing to see how in-demand she is! She’s not just talented, but incredibly busy – she actually wishes she had more time to relax! She has a wonderful family she loves, and especially adores her grandchildren, but she keeps getting offered roles she simply can’t refuse. It’s a good problem to have, I guess, but you can tell she misses those precious moments with them.

Authors

Gareth McLean

For almost three decades, Gareth McLean has been a writer and critic specializing in television. He’s reviewed countless shows and interviewed a wide range of personalities, including stars like Liza Minnelli and, formerly, Jimmy Savile. He’s also worked as a writer on television programs.

Read More

2026-05-25 19:37