Imelda Staunton

Imelda Staunton

Acting
Born 1956-01-09Archway, London, England, UK

Biography

Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton (born January 9, 1956) is an English actress and singer. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Staunton began her career in repertory theatre in 1976 and appeared in various theatre productions in the United Kingdom. Staunton has performed in a variety of plays and musicals in London throughout her career, winning four Laurence Olivier Awards; three for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her roles in the musicals Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and Gypsy, and one for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play for her work in both A Chorus of Disapproval and The Corn is Green. Her other stage appearances include The Beggar's Opera, The Wizard of Oz, Uncle Vanya, Guys and Dolls, Entertaining Mr Sloane, and Good People. She has been nominated for 13 Olivier Awards. On film, Staunton starred in Antonia and Jane; in several supporting roles in Kenneth Branagh's comedy Peter's Friends, his adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing; Ang Lee's adaptation of Sense and Sensibility; and the costume romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love. She drew critical acclaim for her performance in the title role in Mike Leigh's Vera Drake, for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and the Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actress, in addition to being nominated for Best Actress by the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. She later gained a wider audience for her portrayal as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films The Order of the Phoenix and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1. She continued supporting roles in Nanny McPhee, reunited with Leigh in Another Year, and the film continuation of Downton Abbey. She portrayed human rights activist Hefina Headon in the historical film Pride, and starred in the British comedy Finding Your Feet. She also provided voice acting roles for the films Chicken Run, Arthur Christmas, and Paddington. On television, Staunton starred in the sitcoms Up the Garden Path and Is it Legal?. Her performance in My Family and Other Animals earned her a nomination for the International Emmy Award for Best Actress, while her roles in Return to Cranford and The Girl earned her BAFTA TV Award nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. For the latter, she was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. She portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in the final two seasons of The Crown.

Movies (98)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
7.7

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

2010Movie7.7
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
7.7

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

2007Movie7.7
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
7.3

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

2019Movie7.3
Alice in Wonderland
6.6

Alice in Wonderland

2010Movie6.6
Maleficent
7.1

Maleficent

2014Movie7.1
Chicken Run
6.9

Chicken Run

2000Movie6.9
Paddington in Peru
6.8

Paddington in Peru

2024Movie6.8
Paddington 2
7.5

Paddington 2

2017Movie7.5
Sense and Sensibility
7.4

Sense and Sensibility

1995Movie7.4
Paddington
7.1

Paddington

2014Movie7.1
Freedom Writers
7.9

Freedom Writers

2007Movie7.9
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
6.9

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

2023Movie6.9
Nanny McPhee
6.7

Nanny McPhee

2005Movie6.7
Shakespeare in Love
6.8

Shakespeare in Love

1998Movie6.8
Arthur Christmas
6.8

Arthur Christmas

2011Movie6.8
Downton Abbey: A New Era
7.2

Downton Abbey: A New Era

2022Movie7.2
Much Ado About Nothing
7.0

Much Ado About Nothing

1993Movie7.0
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
6.5

The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!

2012Movie6.5
Citizen X
7.2

Citizen X

1995Movie7.2
The Awakening
6.4

The Awakening

2011Movie6.4
Downton Abbey
7.1

Downton Abbey

2019Movie7.1
Pride
7.7

Pride

2014Movie7.7
Another Year
7.0

Another Year

2010Movie7.0
The Canterville Ghost
6.6

The Canterville Ghost

2023Movie6.6
Taking Woodstock
6.2

Taking Woodstock

2009Movie6.2
Crush
5.7

Crush

2002Movie5.7
Shadow Man
4.3

Shadow Man

2006Movie4.3
Remember Me?
6.5

Remember Me?

1997Movie6.5
Twelfth Night
7.0

Twelfth Night

1996Movie7.0
& Sons

& Sons

2026Movie
Amulet
5.2

Amulet

2020Movie5.2
My Family and Other Animals
6.4

My Family and Other Animals

2005Movie6.4
Vera Drake
7.2

Vera Drake

2004Movie7.2
Blackball
5.2

Blackball

2003Movie5.2
The Girl
6.1

The Girl

2012Movie6.1
Bright Young Things
6.3

Bright Young Things

2003Movie6.3
Testimony

Testimony

2025Movie
Finding Your Feet
7.0

Finding Your Feet

2017Movie7.0
Three and Out
5.5

Three and Out

2008Movie5.5
Peter's Friends
6.6

Peter's Friends

1992Movie6.6
The Ugly Duckling
5.7

The Ugly Duckling

1997Movie5.7
Rat
6.0

Rat

2000Movie6.0
White Other
7.0

White Other

2010Movie7.0
Harry Potter: A History Of Magic
7.3

Harry Potter: A History Of Magic

2017Movie7.3
Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends
8.0

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends

2022Movie8.0
Guilty Hearts
5.8

Guilty Hearts

2007Movie5.8
Adapting Austen

Adapting Austen

2009Movie
London: The Modern Babylon
6.4

London: The Modern Babylon

2012Movie6.4
The Gruffalo and Me: The Remarkable Julia Donaldson
10.0

The Gruffalo and Me: The Remarkable Julia Donaldson

2020Movie10.0
How About You...
6.3

How About You...

2007Movie6.3
Deadly Advice
4.7

Deadly Advice

1994Movie4.7
A Bunch of Amateurs
5.7

A Bunch of Amateurs

2008Movie5.7
Roots

Roots

1992Movie
The Far Traveller
7.5

The Far Traveller

2020Movie7.5
The Magical World of Julia Donaldson
6.0

The Magical World of Julia Donaldson

2020Movie6.0
I'll Be There
5.4

I'll Be There

2003Movie5.4
Ready
10.0

Ready

2002Movie10.0
A Masculine Ending
8.0

A Masculine Ending

1992Movie8.0
Sense and Sensibility: 25th Anniversary Reunion

Sense and Sensibility: 25th Anniversary Reunion

2021Movie
The Wind in the Willows
5.8

The Wind in the Willows

2006Movie5.8
West the Road

West the Road

Movie
Antonia and Jane
5.4

Antonia and Jane

1990Movie5.4
They Never Slept

They Never Slept

1991Movie
National Theatre Live: Follies
8.0

National Theatre Live: Follies

2017Movie8.0
The Snow Queen
6.5

The Snow Queen

1995Movie6.5
Don't Leave Me This Way
7.3

Don't Leave Me This Way

1993Movie7.3
Little Bird
9.0

Little Bird

2017Movie9.0
Another Life
5.7

Another Life

2001Movie5.7
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2012Movie
National Theatre Live: Mrs. Warren's Profession

National Theatre Live: Mrs. Warren's Profession

2025Movie
The Heat of the Day
8.0

The Heat of the Day

1989Movie8.0
Gypsy
7.8

Gypsy

2015Movie7.8
The Englishman's Wife

The Englishman's Wife

1990Movie
Where Have I Been All Your Life?

Where Have I Been All Your Life?

2007Movie
Victorian Britain on Film
8.0

Victorian Britain on Film

2021Movie8.0
Comrades
6.9

Comrades

1987Movie6.9
Pride: The True Story

Pride: The True Story

2015Movie
The Virgin of Liverpool
3.5

The Virgin of Liverpool

2003Movie3.5
Psychoville Halloween Special

Psychoville Halloween Special

2010Movie
National Theatre Live: Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
6.2

National Theatre Live: Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

2017Movie6.2
The Adventures of Toad

The Adventures of Toad

1996Movie
The Snow Queen's Revenge
5.7

The Snow Queen's Revenge

1996Movie5.7
Yellowbacks
8.0

Yellowbacks

1990Movie8.0
The Adventures of Mole
7.5

The Adventures of Mole

1995Movie7.5
That Day We Sang
6.8

That Day We Sang

2014Movie6.8
The Pen

The Pen

1995Movie
Jack and the Beanstalk
6.8

Jack and the Beanstalk

1999Movie6.8
Stephen Fry: 50 Not Out
8.0

Stephen Fry: 50 Not Out

2007Movie8.0
Clay
5.2

Clay

2008Movie5.2
Jim Carter: Lonnie Donegan and Me

Jim Carter: Lonnie Donegan and Me

2016Movie
Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings
7.0

Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings

2000Movie7.0
The Wind in the Willows
6.0

The Wind in the Willows

1995Movie6.0
Easy Money

Easy Money

1982Movie
Bill Douglas: Intent on Getting the Image
8.8

Bill Douglas: Intent on Getting the Image

2006Movie8.8
Mole's Christmas
5.4

Mole's Christmas

1994Movie5.4
Victoria Wood - That Musical We Made

Victoria Wood - That Musical We Made

2014Movie
A Confession As Told By ITV News

A Confession As Told By ITV News

2019Movie
Mouse and Mole at Christmas Time
6.0

Mouse and Mole at Christmas Time

2013Movie6.0

TV Shows (47)

Midsomer Murders
7.5

Midsomer Murders

1997Series7.5
Doctor Who
7.6

Doctor Who

2005Series7.6
The Graham Norton Show
7.2

The Graham Norton Show

2007Series7.2
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
6.8

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

2005Series6.8
The Crown
8.2

The Crown

2016Series8.2
Golden Globe Awards
7.0

Golden Globe Awards

1944Series7.0
Natural World
7.4

Natural World

1983Series7.4
Tales from the Crypt
8.0

Tales from the Crypt

1989Series8.0
Screen Two
7.1

Screen Two

1985Series7.1
The One Show
4.4

The One Show

2006Series4.4
Trying
7.6

Trying

2020Series7.6
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
2.8

Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

2022Series2.8
The Oscars
7.0

The Oscars

1953Series7.0
Playhouse
7.0

Playhouse

1974Series7.0
Performance
6.3

Performance

1991Series6.3
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries
6.6

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

1987Series6.6
Little Britain
7.0

Little Britain

2003Series7.0
Fingersmith
7.2

Fingersmith

2005Series7.2
ScreenPlay
6.0

ScreenPlay

1986Series6.0
Lily's Driftwood Bay
4.0

Lily's Driftwood Bay

2014Series4.0
The Play on One
6.0

The Play on One

1988Series6.0
A Bit of Fry & Laurie
7.9

A Bit of Fry & Laurie

1989Series7.9
Psychoville
6.9

Psychoville

2009Series6.9
Big & Small
7.7

Big & Small

2008Series7.7
Cranford
8.1

Cranford

2007Series8.1
David Copperfield
7.1

David Copperfield

1999Series7.1
A Confession
7.1

A Confession

2019Series7.1
The Singing Detective
7.6

The Singing Detective

1986Series7.6
The Michael Ball Show

The Michael Ball Show

2010Series
ShakespeaRe-Told
7.4

ShakespeaRe-Told

2005Series7.4
Cambridge Spies
6.4

Cambridge Spies

2003Series6.4
Alan Bennett's Talking Heads
7.6

Alan Bennett's Talking Heads

2020Series7.6
Ladies in Charge
6.5

Ladies in Charge

1986Series6.5
Frank Stubbs Promotes
7.5

Frank Stubbs Promotes

1993Series7.5
Flesh and Blood
6.0

Flesh and Blood

2020Series6.0
Tommy & Tuppence

Tommy & Tuppence

2026Series
The Story of Musicals

The Story of Musicals

2012Series
Is It Legal?
6.3

Is It Legal?

1995Series6.3
Murder
4.3

Murder

2002Series4.3
If You See God, Tell Him
7.5

If You See God, Tell Him

1993Series7.5
Look at the State We're In!

Look at the State We're In!

1995Series
Thompson
5.0

Thompson

1988Series5.0
Strange
7.8

Strange

2003Series7.8
Thirties in Colour: Countdown to War
8.5

Thirties in Colour: Countdown to War

2021Series8.5
Untitled Roald Dahl Series

Untitled Roald Dahl Series

Series
Up the Garden Path
7.0

Up the Garden Path

1990Series7.0
Live! Girls! Present Dogtown

Live! Girls! Present Dogtown

2006Series