Imelda Staunton
A virtuosic English actress whose profound empathy and technical precision have illuminated characters from downtrodden wives to the Queen herself.
Born 1956 (age 70)·English actress and singer·Birthday: January 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Imelda Staunton possesses the rare ability to disappear completely into a role, making the emotional journey of ordinary—or extraordinarily famous—women feel startlingly intimate. A graduate of RADA, she spent years honing her craft in theatre, building a reputation for impeccable comic timing and devastating pathos. Her breakthrough to wider audiences came in Mike Leigh's 2004 film 'Vera Drake,' where her portrayal of a cheerful, secretive abortionist in 1950s London was a masterclass in quiet tragedy, earning her an Oscar nomination. Staunton has never been confined to one genre, moving seamlessly from the malicious Dolores Umbridge in the 'Harry Potter' films to the heartbreakingly fragile mother in 'Pride.' On stage, she is a powerhouse, with multiple Olivier Awards for roles ranging from the spirited Mama Rose in 'Gypsy' to the cunning, sorrowful Martha in 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?' In 2022, she undertook perhaps her most daunting assignment: succeeding Claire Foy and Olivia Colman to play Queen Elizabeth II in the final seasons of 'The Crown.' Her performance avoided imitation, instead finding the weary, steely resolve of a monarch in her twilight. Staunton's career is a testament to the power of character acting at its most transformative and deeply human.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Imelda was born in 1956, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Imelda Was Born
The biggest hits of 1956
#1 Movie
The Ten Commandments
Best Picture
Around the World in 80 Days
#1 TV Show
I Love Lucy
Imelda's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1956Born
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1961Started school
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1969Became a teenager
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Could drive
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1974Could vote
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Turned 21
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1986Turned 30
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 40
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 50
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 60
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 70
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her lead role as Vera Drake in Mike Leigh's 2004 film.
- Won five Laurence Olivier Awards, including for her performances in 'Into the Woods,' 'Gypsy,' and 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'
- Portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in the final two seasons of the Netflix series 'The Crown.'
- Played the universally despised Dolores Umbridge in the 'Harry Potter' film series, creating an iconic cinematic villain.
Did You Know?
She is married to actor Jim Carter, who played Mr. Carson in 'Downton Abbey.'
She and her 'Harry Potter' co-star Jim Broadbent played a married couple in both 'Vera Drake' and the 'Paddington' films.
She provided the voice of the talking dog in the animated film 'The Amazing Maurice.'
She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours.
““I don't do leading lady. I do leading character lady.””
