Born in May of 1946 Joanna Lumley has come along way with her very diverse career.   Sometimes described as 'Rollercoaster' like her career has taken her from the ranks of model, Bond girl, and the ever popular Patsy Stone to her present day social icon status.  Married to Stephan Barlow, Joanna is mother to one son, Jamie, who's paternity has never been made public until recently.  Presented in 1995, Joanna has been awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  Other  honors include having an Oxford fellowship named after her.  Films, television shows, books, voiceovers, celebrity appearances, and endless charitable causes has led for a very busy and influential career for Lumley.

Starring along side of George Lazenby, one of Joanna's first big screen appearances was in December of 1969 when the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service was released for viewing audiences in the UK and US.  Quoted from Mirror Women Joanna says, "It was an enormous part of my life even though I was quite a small part in a movie.  Now I may play large parts in films and have no sense of connection with them.  But I identify with that Bond film."  "I would have played a lavatory cleaner if they had asked"

Lumley returned to the screen again and again  with roles in movies such as The Satanic Rites of Dracula, The Breaking of Bumbo, Tim Lin, Curse of the Pink Panther, Trail of the Pink Panther, The Glory Boys, and Shirley Valentine.

It wasn't long before television noticed the talents of Joanna.   1976 marked a great year for Joanna with the start of the first of two series called the New Avengers.  A revamp version of the original Avengers show, this truly launched Joanna, now 30,  into the eye of the public as Purdy, assistant to the ever ready Steed.  "I really had to fight just to get an audition – they just refused to see me!"

In 1980 the television show Sapphire and Steele, was graced with Joanna playing the lead as Sapphire, playing along side of David McCallum ( Man Form Uncle). In her  Joanna again dazzled the English public with her much admired appearence.  Sent to different times Saphire and Steele are on a mission to  fix time.  With 3 series made it was well recieved but seemed to lack a true following being caught up in mid stream of all the changes of the early 80's.

Joanna's next major performance was for Jennifer Saunders as, Patsy Stone on Absolutley Fabulous in 1992.  This role forever changed the way the public looked at Joanna, making her one that most could identify with, banishishing the long thought vision of her being a high society figure of beauty. 

Lumley was recently interviewed by Michael Parkinson, an UK television presenter, and had this to say about Ab Fab. Joanna on Parkinson

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