Joanna Lumley on acting: “I’ve had no career – I was trying to earn money to keep myself alive”

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Joanna Lumley finds wigs helpful in getting into a character. Unlike some actors who focus on shoes, she believes that hairstyles are more impactful for her. She says, “Actors often talk about how shoes help them embody a character – ‘This is how he would walk!’ – but I’ve never found that to be the case. However, hair has always been useful for me. The way women style their hair can really help set the scene, and I find that when I get my hairstyle right, it helps me slip into character more easily.

The style of a character’s hair plays a significant role in how she presents herself: “I prefer to wear a wig or something else that makes me look different from what I currently do. This is especially true for me since I host travel shows under my own name, Joanna. When I have a wig, it changes my appearance and creates a new impression. This change affects not only the viewers but also helps me deliver a unique performance. Ideally, the transformation would be so striking that people would exclaim, ‘Wow! It’s Joanna!’ However, this doesn’t always happen.” She expresses a hint of disappointment before adding, “Laurence Olivier used to appreciate a good nose.

A fine sense of smell, you might say,” Lumley acknowledges. “Acting, at its core, is the hope for a reprieve from one’s own visage.

Joanna Lumley, throughout her long and illustrious career that started with modeling in the vibrant 60s London, seldom had a moment to step away from the limelight, as her face has been a constant presence. From early appearances as a Bond girl, a role in Christopher Lee’s last Hammer Horror Dracula film, a brief stint on Coronation Street as Ken Barlow’s departing girlfriend, to her breakout role as Purdey in The New Avengers, and later her iconic role as Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous – which marked the beginning of her career’s second act – Joanna Lumley can be found on TV playing either herself or a character reminiscent of Joanna Lumley. Essentially, she must maintain hope that new opportunities will continue to come her way.

Joanna Lumley’s voice is as recognizable as her face, and she’s reached a level of stardom where producers often want her specifically for roles. However, Lumley doesn’t mind this situation because she acknowledges the reality of typecasting in acting. She stated, “It’s crazy not to understand that part of being an actress involves being typecast, but the beauty of it is that you can always change, evolve, and transform.” After her role in Sapphire & Steel, Lumley was primarily offered similar roles, which she turned down even though they were well-written. Instead, she sought out opportunities to keep changing and developing as an actress.

Lumley finds it amusing to think she has a carefully planned career. In truth, she was merely trying to make enough money to sustain herself. She’s never pondered about her destiny or the trajectory of her career. Instead, she chose acting because she loved it, and that was her path. She’s never asked herself if something would harm her career.

As performers, our primary goal was to hone our skills and maintain a steady income to cover our living expenses. We weren’t chasing fame or stardom; instead, we saw ourselves as workers in the same vein as artists such as painters and decorators. Our profession is unpredictable, and I’ve always done whatever it takes to stay afloat.

In the latest addition to her non-traditional roles, Hester Frump portrays Wednesday’s grandmother on Wednesdays. Known as Morticia’s mother but not previously seen, Hester is presented as Wednesday’s closest confidante, although she often clashes with Morticia. According to the creator of Wednesday, Miles Millar, “The bond between Wednesday and Hester is exceptional; their chemistry is palpable on screen.” Notably, like her daughter, Hester sports shiny and well-groomed hair. However, unlike Morticia’s hairstyle, Hester’s hairdo is reminiscent of Patsy from Ab Fab, taking the form of a beehive.

Lumley remarks with enthusiasm about both Hester’s hair and Wednesday as a production: “It’s nothing short of breathtaking!” He continues, expressing his awe at the level of detail, beauty, and grandeur he has never seen before. He also mentions his excitement over wearing numerous large wigs, one stacked upon another.

Lumley collaborated with Tim Burton around two centuries ago on James and the Giant Peach and Corpse Bride, both projects that provided her an opportunity to step away from her usual facial roles. In the first film, which blended live-action and stop-motion animation, she donned prosthetics to portray the loathsome Aunt Spiker. For the latter, a purely stop-motion production, Albert Finney and I assumed the roles of parents to a character that I can’t recall. She was quite dreadful.

Tim is similar to an inventive, yet enigmatic professor, brimming with visual and creative ideas, but sometimes lacks clarity in his thoughts. He tends to trail off in the middle of sentences.” She mentioned this about him. Upon receiving a call from him, he inquired if she had read it. Her response was that it sounded captivatingly beautiful to her.

From all perspectives, Lumley was a major success on set. Millar refers to her as “spot-on and hilarious.” She delivered every line flawlessly, and it was absolutely delightful. In fact, it was so delightful that, as Lumley herself put it, the role of Hester turned out to be “larger than I had agreed to, which was pleasant, as the writers wrote additional scenes for her”.

Pondering over the fascinating fact that Jenna Ortega, at just 22, shares the same age as Helen Mirren was when she first stepped into acting, I find myself curious about how a 22-year-old Mirren would have navigated the whirlwind of fame that Ortega currently experiences.

Things are drastically changed now, and Jen, being an American, operates according to the American way. Jen exerts immense influence, standing tall among others. In contrast, I have never been as influential and am not so now. She is incredibly intelligent, always observant, and I believe she may choose to take control at some point in her life. Her opinions matter; it’s essentially her project. She possesses the ability to succeed; she’s fantastic.

When I inquire about what Lumley believes contributes to her long life, she’s unsure, yet appreciative of it. “Initially, acting was largely based on the question of ‘Are you attractive enough?’ Since I had modeled before, I was primarily perceived as a pretty girlfriend. Such roles don’t offer much depth, and there wasn’t much I could do with them. Actresses were often advised to continue until they turned 29, after which they might be considered too old and out of the industry. However, one persists, thinking ‘Hang in there, hang in there, hang in there.’ It’s tough but one perseveres.

Historically, societal norms have placed more emphasis on women’s physical attractiveness compared to men. However, this is slowly changing, and we are now witnessing a rise in the appreciation of unique, interesting features in people, regardless of age. This was not always possible for women, but today, remarkable individuals like Frances McDormand or Judi Dench can excel in their craft without being conventionally beautiful. They possess the ability to portray a wide range of characters.

I wonder if she could share some guidance for up-and-coming actors and actresses. Here are a few essential tips: Maintain total professionalism by always being punctual, well-groomed, optimistic, adaptable, and prepared with your lines. Don’t be surprised if you encounter poor scripts; do your best under the circumstances. It’s fortunate when you have a good director, a great script, and an amazing cast, but most of the time, it feels like pulling a heavy log across the stage to breathe life into the storyline.

Regardless, you’ll always find companionship nearby, as everyone strives to excel. No one can consistently achieve a grand success. We all experience our moments in the limelight and shadows, and that’s how it naturally unfolds. Consider yourself fortunate if your name is remembered at all.

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2025-07-29 02:54