JOANNA LUMLEY

Famous for playing characters like 'Patsy' and 'Purdy', Joanna Lumley became household name in Britain and also made her an international actress. Joanna Lumley had a contagious energy that floated around her. Conversing with her, I couldn't help feeling the aura of a fabulous energy that spews from her presence. One moment it felt like that her beauty was taking over the atmosphere, and the next, felt like her spoken word was the key to her 'fabulousness'. On 27th August, Rafi Hossain and I had the privilege to meet the ever-glamorous actress, model, voice-over artist, documentarian, humanitarian, comedienne and author Joanna Lumley at Standard Chartered Bank Head office. She was on a brief visit to Bangladesh for “Seeing is Believing” a campaign supported by Standard Chartered Bank. She talked about her lifelong experience with showbiz and many humanitarian activities she is involved in.

Daughter of sub-continent
Joana was born in 1 May 1946 in Srinagar Kashmir. Her father, James Rutherford-Lumley was a Major of 6th Gurkha rifles. To my surprise, she revealed that her father and grandparents' first language was Urdu. Her father was born in Lahore, mother in Sikkim, sister in Abatabad, aunt in Quetta, one cousin in Mumbai and other two cousins in Kashmir. Regarding the connection she feels with sub-continent, she says, “The connection is more than I can tell you”. India-Pakistan separation, she moved to Hong Kong with her parents. It was only when she was eight years old, she moved to England.
Into glitz and glamour
She has done it all: modeling, theatre, radio, TV, film, documentary and voice-over. She started with fashion modelling. For three years – notably for Brian Duffy – she modelled during London's swinging 60s. Later, working as a freelance model, she made to be one of the top booked-models. “I only modelled for three years, and loved it. I modelled in every country in Europe”, she said.
She came into limelight with her role as 'Purdry' in 'The New Avengers' (1976). Lumley was never off the media industry since then. In 1980, she returned to theatre with as 'Elvira' – a role that was made for her. She also appeared in several movies during the 80s including 'Pink Panther' movies.
Being in so all fields of showbiz, the obvious question was, which one she liked the most. Her witty answer said it all, “I always enjoy the media I am not doing. When I am doing theatre, I wish I was in TV. But I do love them all”.
Being so humorous with her answers, Joanna couldn't help admitting that, now, she loves voice-acting the most. Her appreciation to voice-acting was apparent when she was full of praise towards Tim Burton, for whom she voiced in two stop-motion features. She mentioned, “I think the imagination is not hindered by the appearance of somebody. If you hear a voice you make that person your person, you imagine it. There is a lot in spoken words”. She voiced for Tim Burton's 'Corpse Bride' for the villainous role 'Maudeline Everglot'. Tim gave her the little model of Maudeline to become the character. And she gave life to Maudeline with such perfection that it gave some viewer the shivers.
Purdy & Patsy
Joanna propelled into an international star with her role as 'Patsy' in 'Absolutely Fabulous'. It was an enormous fun for her doing that show. “Patsy, disgusting woman. The more awful we became the more the world loved us. We were ghastly, we were so dreadful that it made us cry with laughter that we were so terrible; it was such fun show to do”, she jokingly said regarding the famous Brit-com, 'Ab-Fab'. To my amusement, she said that her parents were horrified to find their daughter playing a role so unlike her. Later, they were relieved find that it was just a satire. I suppose, parents are the same everywhere.
Her distinctive voice made her perfect to play upper class roles. She broke that stereotyping through 'Purdy', an accomplice of a spy. The action filled character of a gun-toting spy sidekick was challenge that gave her new face.
Coming out of same old roles she made herself an accomplished actor. “Most actors like a change. Usually, if you can do comedy ­– I am speaking broadly here – you can do tragedy. If you can act, you can act anything”, she remarked regarding the various kinds characters she played. Her love for acting came when she described theatre, “Thrilling! Acting is thrilling! It is showing off and pretending to be somebody else, there is nothing very clever about it – it's really remaining a child”.
Scrosese & Caprio
Lumley was never confined to one media – for that matter, not in one country. Her filmography knows no border. The latest addition to list of that borderless filmography is a Martin Scorsese directed film, “Wolf of Wallstreet”. She plays the aunt of Leonardo Di Caprio. The highest compliment actors can pay each other is that he/she is a real actor, and Di Caprio is one she said. “He not a star – of course he is a superstar – but he doesn't behave like one”, she said. She also was full of praise for Martin Scorsese and Peter Bogdanovich.
Humanitarian at heart
Joanna worked relentlessly for the Gurkhas, becoming the public face of 'Justice for Gurkhas' campaign. Involved with many other charitable activities, Joanna is also a Trustee for the Coldest Journey, the current Antarctic expedition organized by Sir Ran Fiennes, which is raising funds for 'Seeing is Believing', supported by Standard Chartered Bank. Standard Chartered will match all donations. To date, the programme has raised over US $60 million. She turned emotional, explaining her trip to Bangladesh for poor people here who could easily be cured from blindness. She said, “I had already seen the work done in Islamia Eye Hospital. I was always a great supporter of anything that could cure needless blindness. I was thrilled to be coming back here. The dedication of 'Seeing is Believing' with match-funding of Standard Chartered is impeccable. I am really thrilled to be a part of it.”
More from Joanna
When asked about her future plan, she turned into that energetic woman, and humorously said “THOUSANDS! But I can't talk about any of them. There will be documentaries, more stage and lots more coming up… I am interested in everything and beyond.”
Talking to her for less than an hour, I have no doubt that we will find more fabulous work from Joanna; it could be in the form a movie, a stage show, a voice-artist in an animation or a documentary that will try to change the world for the better.