Joanna Lumley is a national treasure.
The beloved actress and charity campaigner celebrates her 76th birthday today (May 1).
Born in India in 1946 and raised in Kent, Joanna became a photography model before launching her acting career.
She memorably appeared as a Bond girl in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and also portrayed Ken Barlow’s love interest Elaine Perkins on Coronation Street.
Joanna later starred in TV shows such as The New Avengers and Are You Being Served, before her meteoric rise to fame as Patsy Stone on Absolutely Fabulous.
In honour of her special day, Daily Star takes a look into the more private aspects of her life.
Lavish home
Joanna currently lives in Stockwell in southwest London with her husband, Stephen Barlow.
The couple married in 1986 and have been going strong ever since, despite her first marriage to ex-partner Jeremy Lloyd in 1970 only lasting a year.
Of their long-term dwelling, Joanna told Evening Standard in 2011: “It’s starting to look like a dowager duchess who’s dropped her tiara in the gutter.”
The comments echo recent fan suggestions that the couple’s home bears a passing resemblance to Clarence House – the Royal residence of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Joanna took part in a number of video-link interviews on shows including Good Morning Britain and The One Show.
Appearing from home, viewers were given a look into Joanna’s eclectic household; which featured a number of paintings and figurines, as well as ornamental pillows in her lounge.
Rarely-seen son
Joanna gave birth to her only child Jamie in 1967 at the youthful age of 21.
Having raised Jamie as a single mother following her split from his father and photographer Michael Claydon, Jamie is now a successful photographer in his own right.
The 54-year-old is also the father of two teenage girls, Alice and Emily.
Speaking to Northern Echo in 2018, Joanna described spending time with her granddaughters as “absolute heaven”.
Net worth
Following a long and successful career, Joanna is now worth an estimated £18million (via Celebrity Net Worth).
Still working, the actress will soon appear in Charles Dance’s The Inn at the Edge of the World alongside the Game of Thrones actor himself and Freddie Fox.
She will also feature in the TV series Downboy Cartoon alongside her fellow Corrie alum, Kym Marsh.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk