Floella Benjamin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Baroness Benjamin OM DBE DL
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office 26 June 2010 as a life peer
Personal details
Born	Floella Karen Yunies Benjamin (1949-09-23) 23 September 1949 (age 75) Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago
Political party	Liberal Democrats
Spouse	Keith Taylor ​ (m. 1980)​
Children	2

Floella Karen Yunies Benjamin, also known as Baroness Benjamin, is a famous actress, singer, TV presenter, author, and politician from Trinidad and Britain. She was born on September 23, 1949. Many people know her from presenting popular children's TV shows like Play School and Play Away.

In 2010, she became a member of the House of Lords, which is a part of the UK Parliament. This is a special role given to her for life, and her title is Baroness Benjamin. For her amazing work in television over many years, she received the BAFTA Fellowship award in 2024, one of the highest honors in British television.

Early Life and Moving to Britain

Floella Benjamin was born in Pointe-à-Pierre, a town in Trinidad and Tobago. She was one of six children in her family.

When Floella was a child, her father moved to Great Britain to find work. Later, her mother, younger sister, and youngest brother joined him. Floella and her other siblings were left with family friends in Trinidad. It was a very difficult time for them, as the people they stayed with were not kind.

In 1960, Floella and her siblings finally moved to Beckenham, a town in England, to live with their parents. Moving to a new country was not easy. She faced racism, which means people treated her unfairly because of where she came from and the color of her skin. This happened both in her neighborhood and at school.

After finishing school, she worked at a bank during the day and studied for her exams at night. She then became an actress, performing in musicals in London's famous West End. In 1976, she started her career in children's television, becoming a presenter for the BBC's Play School.

Career in Entertainment

Stage and Screen

Before becoming a famous TV presenter, Floella Benjamin was a stage actress. She appeared in popular musicals like Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also acted in several movies and TV shows. Some of her television appearances were in shows like Angels, Crown Court, and Dixon of Dock Green.

She also appeared in the first episode of the detective series Bergerac in 1981.

Working in Children's Television

Floella is best known for her work on children's TV. She was a friendly and familiar face on shows like Play School and Playdays for many years. She also narrated stories for the magazine series Story Teller.

From 2007 to 2011, she played the role of Professor Rivers in The Sarah Jane Adventures, a spin-off of the popular science-fiction show Doctor Who. She also provided the voice for Mama Mirabelle in the CBeebies cartoon Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies.

Honors and Important Roles

A bust of Baroness Benjamin at the University of Exeter.

Floella Benjamin has received many awards for her work in broadcasting and for helping charities. In 2001, she was given an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), a special honor for her services to television. She later received an even higher honor, becoming a Dame (DBE) in 2020 for her work with charities.

In 2022, she was made a member of the Order of Merit, a very special honor given by the monarch to people who have done great work in the arts, learning, or public service.

At the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023, she had the important role of carrying the Sceptre with Dove, one of the royal objects used in the ceremony.

Chancellor of the University of Exeter

Benjamin in 2009

In 2006, Floella became the Chancellor of the University of Exeter. As Chancellor, she was famous for hugging students at their graduation ceremonies instead of just shaking their hands. She held this role for ten years.

To honor her, a statue of her was placed outside the university's student building. The statue has a plaque with her "Three C's" for a happy life:

• Consideration: "put yourself in the place of others and show empathy and respect."
• Contentment: "be satisfied with what you have."
• Confidence: "like the person you are."

Charity and Educational Work

Floella Benjamin is very passionate about helping children and improving education. She supports many charities, including NSPCC, Childline, and Barnardo's. She has often run the London Marathon to raise money for these causes.

She has spoken about the need for high-quality children's television. She also warns about the dangers of children seeing harmful material online.

In 2022, she helped unveil the National Windrush Monument at Waterloo Station in London. The monument honors the "Windrush Generation," the people who moved to Britain from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1971.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Floella Benjamin para niños