Joanna Lumley: From Wednesday’s Grandma to Ab Fab Fame & Personal Triumphs

Joanna Lumley joins Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2 (premiering August 6) as Grandma Hester Frump—Wednesday Addams’ (Jenna Ortega) sharp-tongued grandmother. This iconic role adds to a legendary career spanning modeling, James Bond, and the cult classic Absolutely Fabulous.

Early Life & Modeling

Born in Kashmir, India (1946), Lumley’s family served in the British Army across Asia. Sent to English boarding schools at 8, she later modeled in London, earning £8/week at department stores. A dream of ballet dancing ended when she was deemed "too tall."

Breakthrough Roles

• Bond Girl: A blink-and-miss role in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969).
• The New Avengers (1976): As spy Purdey, she became a household name: “For two years I was on TV all the time. People remembered my name—that changed my life.”

Absolutely Fabulous & Frosty Start

Lumley’s Patsy Stone (the chain-smoking, champagne-guzzling fashion editor) made Ab Fab a global hit. But her first meeting with co-star Jennifer Saunders was icy:

“I said, ‘Can I call you Jen?’ She said, ‘No.’... I tried to quit, fearing it’d be a nightmare.”
Their chemistry later fueled 6 seasons and a film.

Personal Life: Motherhood & Marriages

• Single Mom at 21: Gave birth to son Jamie after doctors said she’d never conceive. Raised him with family support: “It was a miracle.”
• Two Marriages: Briefly wed writer Jeremy Lloyd (1970), joking they “should’ve just had a raging affair.” Found lasting love with conductor Stephen Barlow (1986): “Absence makes our marriage work.”

What’s Next?

As Grandma Frump in Wednesday Season 2, Lumley’s "razor-sharp" presence promises fireworks with Catherine Zeta-Jones’ Morticia. Fans eagerly await her next iconic performance.