Dame Joanna Lumley has spoken candidly about her upbringing as the child of an army family, revealing that she was born in Kashmir and spent her early childhood in Hong Kong and Malaysia before returning to England at the age of eight. In an interview, she described her parents as 'terrifically light on the reins' and credited them with fostering her optimism and love of nature.
Lumley recalled that her mother, Thyra, taught her and her sister to identify birds by their song and to name plants and minerals, while her father, James, was a reader, historian and philosopher. Despite his initial reservations about her acting career, he did not actively disapprove, and Lumley described her upbringing as 'blessed'.
The actress also reflected on becoming a single mother at the age of 21, after being told by doctors that she could not have children. She said her parents were 'fantastic grandparents' who supported her when she was 'destitute and pretty ill' after the birth of her son Jamie. Lumley expressed gratitude that she was not forced to give up her baby, as many women were at the time.
On her 31-year marriage to conductor Stephen Barlow, Lumley cited the importance of independence and mutual admiration. 'One thing that makes my marriage work is a lot of absence,' she said, adding that they both have individual lives and treasure their time together.
