Is one of the most respected British actresses despite the fact she has had no acting training.

In 1991, an Oxford University college changed the name of its common room from Nelson Mandela to Joanna Lumley.

Awarded an honorary doctorate from St Andrews University in 2006.

Received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters in 1994 from Kent University in Canterbury "for her contribution to the entertainment industry and her active charitable work."

Has one son, Jamie Lumley, born in 1967, from a relationship with photographer Michael Claydon.

Her father was a major in the Ghurka Rifles.

After Joanna failed her RADA audition she went into modeling. She was told she was "Too fat and too ugly!".

Joanna was awarded an OBE in 1995.

Born at 7:30pm-IST.

Has an honorary degree From Oxford Brookes University.

The BBC programme "Girl Friday" (1994) in which Lumley was left to fend for herself on a desert island for 10 days, heralded a new reality TV genre, which spawned "Shipwrecked", "Survivor", etc.

Is a vegetarian and an active crusader for animal rights.

Is a vegetarian.

Her grandfather was Colonel Leslie Weir, CIE, a political officer of the British Raj in India, were she was born. Joanna recreated the trip he and his wife made in 1931 to visit the King of Bhutan in "Joanna Lumley in the Kingdom of the Thunderdragon" (1997).

In an episode of "Absolutely Fabulous" (1992) her character claims to have been a "Bond Girl", then says "Julian Bond." Lumley actual was a Bond Girl in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969).