Imelda Staunton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dame Imelda Staunton DBE
Staunton in 2019
Born	Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton (1956-01-09) 9 January 1956 (age 69) Archway, London, England
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1976–present
Spouse(s)	Jim Carter ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	Bessie Carter
Awards	Full list

Dame Imelda Staunton (born January 9, 1956) is a famous English actress and singer. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and started her acting career in 1976. She has performed in many plays in London's West End and across the UK.

Imelda Staunton has won many important awards. These include a British Academy Film Award and five Laurence Olivier Awards. She has also been nominated for an Academy Award, three British Academy Television Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and three Emmy Awards.

She is well-known for her roles in popular films. She played Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter movies. She also voiced characters in Paddington and Chicken Run. On TV, she played Queen Elizabeth II in the Netflix series The Crown.

Becoming an Actress

Imelda Staunton was born in Archway, north London. She was the only child of Bridie and Joseph Staunton. Her parents were from County Mayo, Ireland. Her mother was a musician who could play many tunes by ear.

When Imelda was a teenager, her parents separated. She went to La Sainte Union Catholic School. There, she took drama classes and starred in school plays. Her teacher encouraged her to try out for drama schools. At 18, she was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Early Acting Roles

Imelda Staunton finished RADA in 1976. She then spent six years acting in different British theatres. She played the main role in Saint Joan in 1979.

She later joined the Royal National Theatre. She earned nominations for the Laurence Olivier Award for her work. In 1985, she won her first Olivier Award for her roles in The Corn Is Green and A Chorus of Disapproval.

Imelda also played Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz in 1987. She won her first Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Into the Woods in 1990.

Her first movie role was in Comrades in 1986. She appeared in films like Peter's Friends (1992) and Much Ado About Nothing (1993). She also acted in Sense and Sensibility (1995). In 1998, she shared a Screen Actors Guild Award for Shakespeare in Love.

On television, she starred in the sitcoms Up the Garden Path (1990–1993) and Is it Legal? (1995–1998).

Famous Film Roles

Imelda Staunton at a film premiere in 2011

Imelda Staunton starred in the film Vera Drake in 2004. She won a BAFTA Award for her performance. She also received her first nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

She became very well-known for playing Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) movies. Her portrayal of Umbridge was highly praised.

She also appeared in Nanny McPhee (2005) and Another Year (2010). She lent her voice to characters in animated films like Chicken Run (2000), Arthur Christmas (2011), and Paddington (2014).

On TV, she played Miss Pole in the BBC series Cranford (2007). In 2012, she played Alma Hitchcock in the TV movie The Girl. This role earned her nominations for a BAFTA Television Award and an Primetime Emmy Award.

Return to Musicals and The Crown

Imelda Staunton returned to musical theatre in the 2010s. She played Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (2011–2012). She also starred as Rose in Gypsy (2014–2015). She won Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for both roles.

In 2014, she co-starred in Maleficent and the British comedy-drama Pride. She also voiced Aunt Lucy in the Paddington movies.

In 2017, she performed in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Follies on stage. She joined the cast of the Downton Abbey movie in 2018.

Since 2020, Imelda Staunton has starred in the Apple TV+ comedy series Trying. In 2020, it was announced she would play Queen Elizabeth II in the fifth season of the Netflix series The Crown. She continued this role for the sixth and final season, which aired in 2023. Her performance earned her Golden Globe and BAFTA Television Award nominations.

In summer 2024, Imelda Staunton played Dolly Gallagher Levi in the musical Hello, Dolly! in London. She won another Olivier Award for this role. She also narrated many of Julia Donaldson's children's audiobooks, like The Gruffalo. In 2025, she reprised her role as Dolores Umbridge for a new Harry Potter attraction.

Personal Life

Imelda Staunton is married to actor Jim Carter. They have a daughter named Bessie Carter, who was born in 1993. Both her husband and daughter are also actors. In 2007, they all appeared in the BBC series Cranford. In 2025, Imelda and Bessie Carter acted together in a play called Mrs. Warren's Profession.

Imelda Staunton supports the Labour Party in the UK. She is also a patron for the Milton Rooms, an arts center in Malton, North Yorkshire.

Awards and Recognition

Imelda Staunton has received many awards for her acting. She has won a BAFTA Award, five Olivier Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has also been nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe Awards, and Emmy Awards.

She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2006. In 2016, she became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). In 2024, she was given the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). These honors are for her great contributions to drama and charity.

Film Roles

Television Roles

Theatre Roles

Theme Park Appearances

Discography

• 1990: Into the Woods – Original London Cast; as baker's wife.
• 2010: Julia Donaldson Audio Collection; as the narrator of the Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Highway Rat, Zog, and Charlie Cook's Favourite Book.
• 2012: Sweeney Todd – Revival Cast Recording; as Mrs. Lovett.
• 2015: Gypsy – London Cast Recording; as Momma Rose.
• 2019: Follies – London Cast Recording; as Sally.

See also

In Spanish: Imelda Staunton para niños

• List of British actors
• List of Academy Award winners and nominees from Great Britain
• List of actors with Academy Award nominations