Floella Benjamin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Benjamin
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Official portrait, 2023
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| Assumed office 26 June 2010 Life Peerage |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Floella Karen Yunies Benjamin
23 September 1949 Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Spouse |
Keith Taylor
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 2 |
Floella Benjamin is a famous Trinidadian-British actress, singer, writer, and politician. She was born on 23 September 1949. Many people know her from popular children's TV shows. These include Play School, Play Away, and Jamboree.
In 2010, she became a member of the House of Lords. This is part of the UK Parliament. She was given the title of Baroness Benjamin. In 2024, she received a special award called the BAFTA Fellowship. This was for her amazing work in television.
Contents
Early Life and Journey to the UK
Floella Benjamin was born in Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago. She was one of six children. Her father was a policeman and a jazz musician. He moved to Britain first.
In 1960, Floella and her siblings joined him. They moved to Beckenham, Kent. Floella has shared stories about facing racism when she first arrived in Britain.
After leaving school, she worked in a bank. She also studied at night school to get her A-Levels. Later, she became a stage actress. In 1976, she started presenting children's TV shows. Her first big show was Play School for the BBC.
Her Career in Entertainment
Floella Benjamin has been in many plays and musicals. These include Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. She also appeared in films like I Don't Want to Be Born (1975) and Black Joy (1977).
On TV, she was in shows like Angels and Dixon of Dock Green. She also played Juniper in the first episode of Bergerac in 1981.
Floella also ran her own TV production company. It made children's programmes from 1987. She also did voice work for the Video Standards Council.
From 2007 to 2011, she appeared in the Doctor Who spin-off show. It was called The Sarah Jane Adventures. She played Professor Rivers in several episodes. She also narrated some "making-of" documentaries for Doctor Who DVDs. In 2007, she had a small role in the comedy film Run Fatboy Run.
Floella loves to sing with a rock and blues band. She says singing makes her feel very happy. In 2023, she was part of the New Year's Eve fireworks in London. She read a poem by Benjamin Zephaniah. This celebrated 75 years since the Empire Windrush arrived.
Awards and Important Roles
Floella Benjamin has received many honours. In 2001, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was for her work in broadcasting. At that time, she was the chairperson of BAFTA. She also won a special Lifetime Achievement award from BAFTA.
She was the chairperson of the Women of the Year Lunch for five years. She also helped with the Millennium Commission. She is the president of the Elizabeth R Commonwealth Broadcasting Fund. She is also a governor of the National Film and Television School.
In 2006, the University of Exeter gave her an honorary degree. This was for her contributions to the UK. Floella Benjamin then became the Chancellor of the University of Exeter. She was known for hugging graduates instead of just shaking hands. She held this role for ten years.
A statue of Floella Benjamin stands outside the University of Exeter's student guild. It has a plaque with her words of wisdom. These words are about "Consideration," "Contentment," and "Confidence." This was the first public statue in the UK of a named living black woman.
In 2008, she became a Deputy lieutenant of Greater London. In 2010, she was made a life peer by the Liberal Democrats. This meant she became Baroness Benjamin. She was the first actress to become a peer in the House of Lords. In her first speech, she talked about the importance of childhood. She also spoke about charities like NSPCC, Childline, and Barnardo's. These charities help vulnerable children.
In 2020, she was named one of the 100 most influential black people in the UK. The same year, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This was for her charity work. She received the award from Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. In 2022, she was given another honorary degree. She also became a member of the Order of Merit.
Floella Benjamin was chosen to carry the Sceptre with Dove at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023. In 2024, she received the BAFTA Fellowship award. BAFTA praised her for her support of children and young people. They also noted her impact on TV and her work for diversity. They called her "an unstoppable force for good" and a "national treasure."
Helping Children and Charities
Floella Benjamin cares a lot about education. She was part of a group that looked into primary education in the UK. This group was set up by the Liberal Democrats.
She is also a vice-president for charities like NCH Action for Children and Barnardo's. She is in the NSPCC's Hall of Fame. She has run the London Marathon to raise money for Barnardo's and the Sickle Cell Society.
Floella was a cultural ambassador for the 2012 Summer Olympics. She also took part in the Great North Run in 2011. She is the voice of Mama Mirabelle in the BBC's CBeebies animation Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies.
In 2007, she spoke about the need for better children's television. She is a patron of the charity Beating Bowel Cancer. She lost her mother to this disease in 2009.
In 2022, she helped unveil the National Windrush Monument. This statue is at Waterloo Station. It honours the people who arrived in the UK on the Empire Windrush.
Selected Filmography
Television
Floella Benjamin has appeared in many TV shows. Here are some of them:
- Crown Court (1974) – Jenny Marsh
- Within These Walls (1974–1975) – Barbara
- Play School (1976–1988) – Presenter
- Angels (1978–1979) – Marigold Glasspole / April Yallop
- Bergerac (1981) – Juniper
- Jamboree (1998–2000) – Presenter
- Fetch the Vet (2000–2001) – Kara (Voice Role)
- Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies (2007–2008) – Mama Mirabelle (UK Voice)
- The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007–2011) – Professor Rivers
- Chuggington (2010–2022) – Mayor Pullman (UK Voice)
- Countdown (2022) – Guest Presenter
Images for kids
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Floella Benjamin in 2009
