IS
Imelda Staunton
ActorBorn January 9, 1956 (69 years)
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.
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 & Shows on Plex
Known For
Imelda Staunton Filmography
| 2025 | Testimony · as Narrator (voice) |
| 2025 | & Sons · as Isabel |
| 2024 | Paddington in Peru · as Aunt Lucy (voice) |
| 2023 | Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget · as Bunty (voice) |
| 2023 | The Canterville Ghost · as Mrs Umney (voice) |
| 2022 | Downton Abbey: A New Era · as Maud Bagshaw |
| 2021 | Thirties in Colour: Countdown to War (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 2020 | The Far Traveller · as Narrator |
| 2020 | Amulet · as Sister Claire |
| 2020 | Alan Bennett's Talking Heads (TV Series) · as Irene Ruddock |
| 2020 | Trying (TV Series) · as Penny |
| 2020 | Flesh and Blood (2020) (TV Series) · as Mary Bennett |
| 2019 | Maleficent: Mistress of Evil · as Knotgrass |
| 2019 | Downton Abbey · as Maud Bagshaw |
| 2019 | A Confession (TV Series) · as Karen Edwards |
| 2019 | |
| 2017 | Finding Your Feet · as Sandra Abbott |
| 2017 | National Theatre Live: Follies · as Sally Durant Plummer |
| 2017 | Paddington 2 · as Aunt Lucy (voice) |
| 2017 | Harry Potter: A History of Magic · as Narrator |
| 2017 | |
| 2017 | Little Bird · as First Officer Simpkins |
| 2016 | The Crown (TV Series) · as Queen Elizabeth Ii |
| 2015 | Gypsy: Live from the Savoy Theatre · as Rose |
| 2014 | That Day We Sang · as Enid |
| 2014 | Paddington · as Aunt Lucy (voice) |
| 2014 | Pride · as Hefina |
| 2014 | Maleficent · as Knotgrass |
| 2014 | Lily's Driftwood Bay (TV Series) · as Rowena Rabbit (voice) |
| 2013 | Mouse and Mole at Christmas Time · as Shrew (voice) |
| 2012 | The Girl · as Alma Reville Hitchcock |
| 2012 | London: The Modern Babylon · as Spoken Quotations (voice) |
| 2012 | The Pirates! Band of Misfits · as Queen Victoria (voice) |
| 2012 | The Awakening: A Time for Ghosts · as Maud Hill |
| 2011 | Arthur Christmas · as Mrs Santa (voice) |
| 2011 | The Awakening · as Maud Hill |
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 · as Dolores Umbridge |
| 2010 | White Other · as Lynne Mcdermott |
| 2010 | Another Year · as Janet |
| 2010 | Alice in Wonderland · as Talking Flowers (voice) |
| 2009 | Taking Woodstock · as Sonia Teichberg |
| 2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince · as Dolores Umbridge |
| 2009 | Psychoville (TV Series) |
| 2008 | A Bunch of Amateurs · as Mary |
| 2008 | Big and Small (TV Series) |
| 2008 | A Deal Is a Deal · as Rosemary Cassidy |
| 2008 | Clay · as Mary Doonan |
| 2007 | Cranford (TV Series) · as Miss Pole |
| 2007 | How About You · as Hazel Nightingale |
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix · as Dolores Umbridge |
| 2007 | Freedom Writers · as Margaret Campbell |
| 2006 | The Wind in the Willows · as Barge Lady |
| 2006 | Live!Girls! present Dogtown (TV Series) |
| 2006 | Shadow Man · as Ambassador Cochran |
| 2006 | Guilty Hearts · as Naomi |
| 2005 | My Family and Other Animals · as Mother |
| 2005 | ShakespeaRe-Told (TV Series) |
| 2005 | Nanny McPhee · as Mrs. Blatherwick |
| 2005 | Fingersmith (TV Series) · as Mrs. Sucksby |
| 2005 | Doctor Who (2005) (TV Series) · as Interface (voice) |
| 2004 | Vera Drake · as Vera Drake |
| 2003 | Bright Young Things · as Lady Brown |
| 2003 | Blackball · as Bridget |
| 2003 | Coming Up (TV Series) · as Mother |
| 2003 | I'll Be There · as Dr. Bridget |
| 2003 | Cambridge Spies (TV Series) · as The Queen |
| 2003 | The Virgin of Liverpool · as Sylvia Conlon |
| 2003 | Little Britain (TV Series) · as Mrs. Mead |
| 2002 | Strange Case of Penny Alison · as Cast |
| 2002 | Murder (2002) (TV Series) · as Dci Billie Dory |
| 2002 | Strange (TV Series) · as Reverend Mary Truegood |
| 2002 | Ready · as Naomi |
| 2001 | Crush · as Janine |
| 2001 | Another Life · as Ethel Graydon |
| 2000 | Victoria Wood: With All the Trimmings · as Mrs. Cottisloe |
| 2000 | Rat · as Conchita Flynn |
| 2000 | Chicken Run · as Bunty (voice) |
| 1999 | David Copperfield (1999) (TV Series) · as Mrs. Micawber |
| 1999 | Jack and the Beanstalk · as Dilly (voice) |
| 1998 | The Canterbury Tales (TV Series) · as The Prioress |
| 1998 | Shakespeare in Love · as Nurse |
| 1997 | The Ugly Duckling · as Scruffy (voice) |
| 1997 | Remember Me? · as Lorna |
| 1997 | Midsomer Murders (TV Series) · as Christine Cooper |
| 1996 | The Adventures of Toad · as Voice |
| 1996 | Twelfth Night · as Maria |
| 1996 | The Snow Queen's Revenge · as Elspeth / Rowena (voice) |
| 1995 | The Adventures of Mole · as Voice |
| 1995 | Sense and Sensibility · as Charlotte Jennings Palmer |
| 1995 | Is It Legal? (TV Series) |
| 1995 | Citizen X · as Mrs. Burakov |
| 1995 | The Snow Queen · as Ivy / Angorra |
| 1994 | Mole's Christmas · as (voices) |
| 1994 | Deadly Advice · as Beth Greenwood |
| 1993 | Jo Brand Through the Cakehole (TV Series) · as Various Characters |
| 1993 | If You See God, Tell Him (TV Series) · as Muriel Spry |
| 1993 | Don't Leave Me This Way · as Bridget Bennet |
| 1993 | Much Ado About Nothing · as Margaret |
| 1992 | Peter's Friends · as Mary Charleston |
| 1992 | A Masculine Ending · as Bridget Bennet |
| 1991 | Performance (TV Series) · as Jenny Beales |
| 1991 | Antonia and Jane · as Jane Hartman |
| 1989 | The Heat of the Day · as Louie |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt (TV Series) · as Sarah |
| 1988 | The Play on One (TV Series) · as Cheryl Newman |
| 1987 | A Bit of Fry & Laurie (TV Series) |
| 1987 | The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (TV Series) · as Polly Flinders |
| 1986 | Comrades · as Betsy Loveless |
| 1986 | The Singing Detective (TV Series) · as Staff Nurse White |
| 1986 | Screenplay (1986) (TV Series) · as Jane Hartman |
| 1984 | Screen Two (TV Series) · as The Producer |
| 1983 | Natural World (TV Series) · as Narrator |
| 1973 | Playhouse (TV Series) · as Mary Price |
| 1965 | Jackanory (TV Series) · as Storyteller |
| 2022 | Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends · as Self |
| 2022 | Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2022 | |
| 2015 | Victoria Derbyshire (TV Series) · as Self - Interviewed Guest |
| 2015 | 2015 EE British Academy Film Awards · as Self - Nominee & Presenter: Fellowship Award |
| 2013 | Portrait Artist of the Year (TV Series) · as Self - Sitter |
| 2013 | The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2012 | The Story of Musicals (TV Series) · as Self – Narrator (voice) |
| 2012 | The Awakening: Behind the Scenes · as Self |
| 2011 | The Jonathan Ross Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2009 | Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 2: Characters · as Self - 'dolores Umbridge' |
| 2007 | Stephen Fry: 50 Not Out · as Self |
| 2007 | |
| 2007 | The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter · as Self |
| 2007 | The Graham Norton Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2007 | The Making of Cranford · as Self |
| 2006 | The ONE Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2006 | The King's Head: A Maverick in London · as Self |
| 2005 | The 77th Annual Academy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2005 | 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 2005 | The 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2005 · as Self - Nominee |
| 2005 | The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2005 | Vera Drake: Cast and Crew Documentary · as Self |
| 2004 | The 2004 European Film Awards · as Self - Winner: Best Actress |
| 2004 | The Paul O'Grady Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2003 | Mark Lawson Talks to... (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | Today with Des and Mel (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2002 | RI:SE (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2001 | Richard & Judy (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2001 | Lorraine (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 2001 | Crush: Behind the Scenes · as Self |
| 2000 | BBC Breakfast (TV Series) · as Self - Actress |
| 2000 | The Hatching of 'Chicken Run' · as Self |
| 1994 | Cartelera (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1993 | Jools' Annual Hootenanny (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1992 | HBO First Look (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | Thompson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1988 | This Morning (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | Granada Reports (TV Series) · as Self - Lady Bagshaw |
| 1978 | The South Bank Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1971 | Film (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1953 | The Academy Awards (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1952 | Today (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1944 | Golden Globe Awards (TV Series) · as Self - Nominee |