Pamela Stephenson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pamela Stephenson
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Stephenson in 1992
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Pamela Stephenson
4 December 1949 Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand
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| Citizenship | Australia (by descent) New Zealand (by birth) United Kingdom (naturalised) |
| Alma mater | California Graduate Institute (PhD, Clinical Psychology) |
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| Years active | 1971–present |
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Full list |
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| Children | 3 |
Pamela Stephenson, Lady Connolly (born 4 December 1949) is a talented person from New Zealand who is known for being a psychologist, writer, actress, and comedian. She holds citizenship in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
When she was a child, her family moved to Australia. There, she studied acting at the famous National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). After acting in Australia, she moved to the United Kingdom in 1976.
Stephenson became famous for her role in the British comedy show Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982). She starred with other comedians like Rowan Atkinson. She also appeared in movies like History of the World, Part I (1981) and Superman III (1983). From 1984 to 1985, she was a cast member on the American comedy show Saturday Night Live.
Later, she changed careers and became a clinical psychologist. She has written several books, including biographies about her husband, the comedian Billy Connolly. In 2010, she was a finalist on the popular BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.
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Early life and education
Pamela Stephenson was born on 4 December 1949, in Takapuna, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. In 1953, when she was three years old, she moved to Australia with her parents and two sisters.
She went to primary school in Sydney and later attended the Sydney Church of England Girls' Grammar School. After high school, she studied at the University of New South Wales. She then decided to focus on acting and switched to the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.
Acting career
First roles in Australia
After graduating from NIDA in 1970, Stephenson began her acting career. She performed in six different plays in Perth. She also appeared in several Australian television shows, including Division 4, Homicide, and Matlock Police.
Stephenson starred in the movie Private Collection in 1973. From 1972 to 1973, she played the character Julie King in the Australian TV series Ryan.
Moving to the United Kingdom
In 1976, Stephenson moved to the UK to find new acting opportunities. She appeared in several popular British TV shows. These included Space: 1999, The New Avengers, and The Professionals. She also had a role in an episode of Tales of the Unexpected in 1979.
Breakthrough with Not the Nine O'Clock News
Stephenson became a household name in the UK with the comedy show Not the Nine O'Clock News. The show, which ran from 1979 to 1982, also starred Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, and Griff Rhys Jones. It was a sketch comedy show that made fun of news and current events.
On the show, Stephenson was known for her funny impersonations of famous people. She famously parodied newsreaders like Angela Rippon and Jan Leeming. She also did a funny spoof of the singer Kate Bush.
Not the Nine O'Clock News was very successful. It won a BAFTA award for Best Light Entertainment Programme in 1981. For her work on the show, Stephenson was nominated for two BAFTA awards herself.
Movies and Saturday Night Live
In the 1980s, Stephenson appeared in several movies. She had a role in Mel Brooks's comedy film History of the World, Part I (1981). In 1983, she played Lorelei Ambrosia in Superman III. Her character was the girlfriend of the movie's villain.
From 1984 to 1985, Stephenson joined the cast of the American TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL) for its tenth season. She was one of the few cast members on the show to be born outside of North America. On SNL, she did impressions of singers like Billy Idol and Cyndi Lauper.
In 1987, Stephenson took part in a special charity TV event called The Grand Knockout Tournament along with Prince Edward and many other celebrities.
Career in psychology and writing
In the 1990s, Stephenson decided to change careers. She had achieved her goals in comedy and wanted to pursue her interest in psychology. She studied in the United States and became a qualified clinical psychologist. In 1996, she earned a doctorate (PhD) in clinical psychology.
As a psychologist, she has focused on helping people with their relationships and mental health. She has written several books on these topics, including Head Case: Treat Yourself to Better Mental Health (2009).
Books and adventures
Stephenson has written many popular books. In 2002, she published Billy, a biography of her husband, Billy Connolly. It became a bestseller in Britain. She wrote a follow-up book called Bravemouth in 2004.
She is also an adventurer. In 2004, she went on a year-long sailing trip, following the same route that the famous author Robert Louis Stevenson had taken. She wrote about her journey in the book Treasure Islands.
Strictly Come Dancing
In 2010, Stephenson competed in the eighth series of the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing. She was partnered with professional dancer James Jordan. They were very popular with the audience and reached the final, finishing in third place.
Personal life
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From 1978 to 1984, Stephenson was married to actor Nicholas Ball.
She met Scottish comedian and actor Billy Connolly in 1979. They lived together for ten years before getting married in Fiji on 20 December 1989. Together, they have three daughters.
In 2017, Billy Connolly was knighted by the Queen for his services to entertainment and charity. This means Pamela Stephenson can be formally called Lady Connolly. As of 2022, the couple lived in Key West, Florida.
Images for kids
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Pamela Stephenson - 1987.jpg
Stephenson in 1987
See also
In Spanish: Pamela Stephenson para niños
