Imelda Staunton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Imelda Staunton
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Staunton in 2019
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| Born |
Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton
9 January 1956 Archway, London, England
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| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation |
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| 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 well-known English actress and singer. She has starred in many films, TV shows, and plays. Imelda Staunton is famous for playing different kinds of characters. She has won many important awards for her acting. These include a British Academy Film Award and four Laurence Olivier Awards. She was also nominated for an Academy Award.
Many people know her from her roles in popular movies. She played the strict Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films. She also voiced Aunt Lucy in the Paddington movies. On TV, she played Queen Elizabeth II in the series The Crown.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Imelda Staunton was born in Archway, London, a part of North London. She was the only child of Bridie and Joseph Staunton. Her parents were from Ireland and lived above her mother's hair salon. Imelda's mother was a talented musician. She could play almost any song on the accordion or fiddle just by listening.
Imelda went to La Sainte Convent school. There, she took drama classes and acted in school plays. Her teacher encouraged her to try out for drama schools. When she was 18, she was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). This is a very famous acting school in London.
Acting Career
Imelda Staunton has had a long and successful acting career. She has performed on stage, in movies, and on television.
Theatre Roles
After finishing drama school in 1976, Imelda worked in different theatres across Britain. She spent six years performing in "repertory theatre." This means she acted in many different plays with the same theatre company. She then joined the Royal National Theatre, which is a very important theatre in London.
She earned her first big awards for her theatre work. She won a Laurence Olivier Award for her roles in The Corn Is Green and A Chorus of Disapproval. Later, she won three more Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical. These were for her roles in Into the Woods (1991), Sweeney Todd (2013), and Gypsy (2016). She played the main character, Dolly Levi, in the musical Hello, Dolly! in London in 2024.
Film Roles
Imelda Staunton started acting in films in the 1980s. Some of her early movies include Peter's Friends (1992) and Sense and Sensibility (1995). She also appeared in Shakespeare in Love (1998).
In 2004, she played the main character in the film Vera Drake. Her performance in this movie was highly praised. She won a BAFTA Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for this role.
Many young people know her best as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010). She played the mean and strict teacher very well. She also voiced Aunt Lucy in the popular Paddington movies (2014, 2017, 2024). Other films she has been in include Nanny McPhee (2005) and Downton Abbey (2019, 2022).
Television Work
Imelda Staunton has also had many roles on television. She starred in the sitcoms Up the Garden Path (1990–1993) and Is it Legal? (1995–1998). She also appeared in the popular series Cranford (2007).
In 2012, she played Alma Reville, the wife of director Alfred Hitchcock, in the TV movie The Girl. This role earned her nominations for a BAFTA Television Award and an Emmy Award. From 2022 to 2023, she played Queen Elizabeth II in the final seasons of the hit Netflix series The Crown. Her performance as the Queen was highly acclaimed.
Radio and Other Work
Imelda Staunton has also lent her voice to many radio shows. She has narrated several audiobooks for children. These include popular stories by Julia Donaldson, like The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child. She also supports arts and charity work.
Personal Life
Imelda Staunton is married to actor Jim Carter. He is known for playing Mr. Carson in Downton Abbey. They have a daughter named Bessie, who was born in 1993. Bessie is also an actress. The family lives in West Hampstead, London.
Awards and Honours
Imelda Staunton has received many awards for her amazing acting. She has won a BAFTA Award for film and four Olivier Awards for her theatre work. She also received a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has been nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe Awards, and Emmy Awards.
In recognition of her contributions to drama and charity, she has received special honours from the British Crown. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2006. Later, she became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2016. In 2024, she was given the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This means she is now known as Dame Imelda Staunton.
Discography
Imelda Staunton has also recorded music for some of the musicals she has starred in:
- 1990: Into the Woods – Original London Cast
- 2012: Sweeney Todd – Revival Cast Recording
- 2015: Gypsy – London Cast Recording
- 2019: Follies – London Cast Recording
She has also narrated many audiobooks, especially for children.
Images for kids
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Staunton at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Imelda Staunton para niños
- List of British Academy Award nominees and winners
- List of actors with Academy Award nominations
