Celia Imrie

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 Celia Diana Savile Imrie, born July 15th, 1952, is a celebrated British actress and author. She's captivated audiences with her film roles, including appearances in the beloved Bridget Jones series, Calendar Girls, Nanny McPhee, and the charming Marigold Hotel films. You'll also recognize her from the FX series Better Things, the recent Netflix hit The Diplomat, and the upcoming The Thursday Murder Club, alongside her frequent and memorable collaborations with the brilliant Victoria Wood. Born in Guildford, Surrey, Celia is the fourth of five children. Her father, Dr. David Andrew Imrie, was a radiologist from Glasgow, and her mother, Diana Elizabeth Imrie, hailed from an ancient Suffolk family. After her early education at Guildford High School, she honed her craft at the Guildford School of Acting. Her filmography is extensive and impressive. She brought us the mischievous Mrs. Selma Quickly in Nanny McPhee, the complex Iris du Pré in Hilary and Jackie, and Homily Clock in The Borrowers. She's graced the screen in House of Whipcord, Bridget Jones's Diary, Calendar Girls, Highlander, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. She even took to the stars as Fighter Pilot Bravo 5 in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, played Matron in St Trinian's, Claudia Bing in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Victoria Watkins in A Cure for Wellness, Bif in Finding Your Feet, the Vice-Chancellor in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Mimi in Love Sarah, Imelda in Good Grief, and will soon be seen as Joyce in The Thursday Murder Club. On television, Celia's credits include iconic shows like Upstairs, Downstairs, Bergerac, and The Darling Buds of May. She was Vera in Ruth Rendell's A Dark-Adapted Eye, and her early work with Victoria Wood on Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, including the unforgettable Acorn Antiques, is legendary. She reunited with Wood for the television film Pat and Margaret and later starred in Dinnerladies. Her other television ventures include Still Game, Cloud Howe, Taggart, and Blue Black Permanent. She portrayed Lady Gertrude in Gormenghast, was part of Love in a Cold Climate, and played Mrs. Violet Pearman opposite Albert Finney's Churchill in The Gathering Storm. She appeared in the BBC drama Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle, starred with Nicholas Lyndhurst in After You've Gone, alongside Stephen Fry in Kingdom, and with Judi Dench in Cranford. Her captivating performance as the villainous Miss Kizlet in Doctor Who's "The Bells of Saint John" was a standout. She made her US television debut in Legends of Tomorrow and has been a fixture in the FX series Better Things. And in 2025, she'll be a contestant on the first series of The Celebrity Traitors. Celia's theatrical journey began as a chorus girl in pantomimes, leading to a significant role as an Assistant Stage Manager and understudy with the Royal Shakespeare Company, touring the world with Glenda Jackson in Hedda Gabler. She's performed in revues like Performing Ceals, and graced the stages of the Royal Court Theatre and Traverse Theatre. She was a vital part of the Citizens Theatre in Glasgow for several seasons and starred in Alfie with Adam Faith. Her performance in The Sea alongside Dame Judi Dench at the National Theatre was highly acclaimed. Her one-woman show, Unsuspecting Susan, transferred from London to New York. She's appeared in Plague Over England, the world premiere of Mixed Up North, and Sheridan's The Rivals. Her role in Acorn Antiques: The Musical! earned her a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress. She's shared the stage with Harold Pinter in The Hothouse, Dudley Sutton in Hangover Square, and Paul O'Grady in Drama at Inish. Her cabaret, Laughing Matters, was also a hit. She starred in Hay Fever and received an Olivier nomination for her performance in Noises Off. In 2016, she reunited with Glenda Jackson after 41 years to play a formidable Goneril in King Lear. In 2019, she lent her voice to narrate the D-day 75th anniversary ceremony at Portsmouth. On radio, Celia has featured in BBC Radio 4's No Commitments and Bleak Expectations. She narrated the book Arabella and was a guest on Desert Island Discs. She also appeared on The Museum of Curiosity. As an author, Celia's debut novel, Not Quite Nice, was a bestseller, praised as a "delicious piece of entertainment." She followed this with Nice Work (If You Can Get It), Sail Away, A Nice Cup of Tea, Orphans of the Storm, and Meet Me At Rainbow Corner. Her role in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again led to her first UK Top 40 single with Lily James, a cover of ABBA's "When I Kissed the Teacher." Celia Imrie resides in London and Nice, France. She is the mother of Angus Imrie, who has also appeared on screen with her. At a young age, she bravely faced anorexia nervosa and underwent treatment. In 2005, she experienced a pulmonary embolism. Her journey on the genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? revealed fascinating ancestral connections, including a Whig parliamentarian and a founder of the White Star Line. In 2013, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Winchester. In recognition of her significant contributions to drama, Celia Imrie was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire, CBE, in the 2023 Birthday Honours. Her accolades include the Clarence Derwent Award, an Olivier Award for her musical theatre work, and a UK WFTV Lifetime Achievement Award.
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 Celia Diana Savile Imrie (born 15 July 1952) is a British actress and author. She is best known for her film roles, including the Bridget Jones film series, Calendar Girls (2003), Nanny McPhee (2005), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), the FX TV series Better Things (2016–2022), the Netflix series The Diplomat (2023–present), The Thursday Murder Club (2025), and her frequent collaborations with actress and comedian Victoria Wood. == Early life and education == Imrie was born on 15 July 1952 in Guildford, Surrey, the fourth of five children of Dr. David Andrew Imrie, a radiologist from Glasgow, Scotland, and Diana Elizabeth Imrie, née Cator. Her mother was a granddaughter of Sir John Ralph Blois, 8th Baronet, from an ancient Suffolk family. Imrie was educated at Guildford High School, an independent school for girls in her home town of Guildford, followed by the Guildford School of Acting. == Career == === Film === Imrie's film credits include the mischievous Mrs. Selma Quickly in Nanny McPhee, Iris du Pré in Hilary and Jackie, Homily Clock in the 1997 film The Borrowers, House of Whipcord, Bridget Jones's Diary, Calendar Girls, Highlander and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Imrie played Fighter Pilot Bravo 5 in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Matron in St Trinian's (2007), Claudia Bing in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016), Victoria Watkins in A Cure for Wellness (2016), Bif in Finding Your Feet (2017), Vice-Chancellor in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), Mimi in Love Sarah (2020), Imelda in Good Grief (2024) and Joyce in The Thursday Murder Club (2025). === Television === Imrie's television credits include Upstairs, Downstairs, Bergerac, The Nightmare Man, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Casualty, Absolutely Fabulous, and The Darling Buds of May. She also played Vera in A Dark-Adapted Eye (1994) by Ruth Rendell. She first worked with Victoria Wood in the 1980s on Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, which included the popular sketch Acorn Antiques. In 1994, she reunited with Wood in the television film Pat and Margaret, and later appeared in Dinnerladies (TV series) from 1998 to 1999. Imrie's other roles include Still Game, Cloud Howe, Taggart, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, and Blue Black Permanent (1992). In 2000, she played Lady Gertrude in Gormenghast, while, in 2001, she was in Love in a Cold Climate with Alan Bates. In 2002, she played Mrs Violet Pearman to Albert Finney's Churchill in The Gathering Storm. She appeared in the BBC television drama Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle (2005), appeared opposite Nicholas Lyndhurst in the BBC sitcom After You've Gone (2007–2008), opposite Stephen Fry in the ITV1 drama Kingdom, and with Judi Dench in Cranford. In 2013, she guest-starred in the BBC's Doctor Who, playing the villainous Miss Kizlet in "The Bells of Saint John". In May 2016, she made her US television debut in the DC action-adventure series Legends of Tomorrow. In September 2016 she began starring as Phyllis in the FX series Better Things. In May 2025, Imrie was announced as a contestant on the upcoming first series of The Celebrity Traitors. === Theatre === After appearing as a chorus girl in many a pantomime, Imrie got a job, in 1975, as an Assistant Stage Manager and understudy in the Royal Shakespeare Company with Glenda Jackson playing Hedda Gabler, directed by Trevor Nunn, on a world tour. Also in the company at that time were Patrick Stewart, Timothy West, Peter Eyre, Pam St Clement, Jennie Linden and Fidelis Morgan. In 1979, Imrie played in her first revue, Performing Ceals with Celia Foxe, which first opened at The Bonne Crepe and played at various venues in London ending up in 1980 at The Comic Strip. Other plays include Seduced at the Royal Court Theatre, and Heaven and Hell at the Traverse Theatre. Imrie appeared with the company in the 1979, 1981 and 1983 seasons at the celebrated Citizens Theatre in Glasgow. In 1984 she played in Alfie with Adam Faith at the Liverpool Playhouse in a production directed by Alan Parker. In 1991 she appeared in The Sea with Dame Judi Dench at the National Theatre in London. In 2005, after a successful run at the King's Head Theatre, her one woman play Unsuspecting Susan written by Stewart Permutt transferred to 59E59 Theaters in New York. In 2009 she appeared in Plague Over England in the West End, while in the same year she appeared in the world premiere of Robin Soans' Mixed Up North, directed by Max Stafford-Clark. In 2010, she appeared alongside Robin Soans in a production of Sheridan's The Rivals. In 2005, Imrie won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in Acorn Antiques: The Musical! playing Miss Babs. In 1995 she played in The Hothouse at the Chichester Festival Theatre with Harold Pinter, with the production after transferring to the West End. In 1990 she appeared in Hangover Square at the Lyric Hammersmith with Dudley Sutton, in Drama at Inish (2011) at the Finborough Theatre with Paul O'Grady, and in her cabaret Laughing Matters – all adapted and directed by Fidelis Morgan. In 2010, Imrie played in Hay Fever, and during the 2011–2012 season she appeared in Noises Off at The Old Vic and the West End, for which performance she was nominated for an Olivier Award. In 2016 Imrie re-united with Glenda Jackson after 41 years since their RSC world tour, playing a "grimly determined Goneril" in King Lear at The Old Vic. Imrie narrated during the ceremonial event held to mark the 75th anniversary of D-day at Portsmouth in 2019. === Radio === Imrie's radio work includes parts in BBC Radio 4's No Commitments and Bleak Expectations. In early 2007, she narrated the book Arabella, broadcast over two weeks as the Book at Bedtime. She was the guest on Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 on 13 February 2011. She appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Museum of Curiosity in October 2019. Her hypothetical donation to this imaginary museum was "A half-burnt candle". === Books === Imrie's debut novel Not Quite Nice was published by Bloomsbury in 2015, had six weeks in the Sunday Times Top Ten, was cited by The Times as a 'delicious piece of entertainment', and also reached number 5 in the Apple ibook chart and 8 in Amazon's book chart. Her second novel, Nice Work (If You Can Get It), was published in 2016; and her third, Sail Away, was published in February 2018. Her next work, A Nice Cup of Tea, was published in 2019. Her fifth novel, Orphans of the Storm, was published in 2021. The Happy Hoofer (2011), Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 978-1444709278 Not Quite Nice (2015), Bloomsbury Publishing, ISBN 978-1632860323 Nice Work (If You Can Get It) (2016), Bloomsbury Publishing, ISBN 978-1408876909 Sail Away (2018), Bloomsbury Publishing, ISBN 978-1408883235 A Nice Cup of Tea (2019), Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1408883266 Orphans of the Storm (2021), Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1526614896 Meet Me At Rainbow Corner (2024), Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1526616357 === Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again === As part of the cast of the 2018 film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Imrie achieved her first UK Top 40 single alongside Lily James with a cover of the ABBA song "When I Kissed the Teacher", which reached number 40 in August 2018. == Personal life == Imrie lives in London and in Nice, France. She has a son, Angus Imrie, born in 1994, with the actor Benjamin Whitrow. Angus appears as her on-screen son in Kingdom (2007–2009) and has acted in other productions, having studied drama and performance at the University of Warwick. When she was 14, she was admitted to the Royal Waterloo Hospital suffering from anorexia nervosa. Under the care of controversial psychiatrist William Sargant, she was given electroshock and large doses of the anti-psychotic drug Largactil. In July 2005, she suffered a pulmonary embolism and was hospitalised for two weeks. Imrie was featured in the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are? in October 2012 and discovered that an ancestor on her mother's side was William, Lord Russell, a Whig parliamentarian executed for treason in 1683, after being found guilty of conspiring against Charles II. Imrie's great-great uncle, William Imrie, was a founder of the White Star Line. Imrie is the ten-times-great granddaughter of the infamous Frances Carr, Countess of Somerset. In 2013, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Winchester. == Honours and awards == Imrie was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to drama. 1992: The Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Actress in The Sea 2006: Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical in Acorn Antiques:The Musical! 2017: UK WFTV (Women in Film and Television) Award for the EON Productions Lifetime Achievement == Filmography == === Film === === Television === == Theatre == Source: == References == == External links == Celia Imrie at IMDb Celia Imrie at the BFI's Screenonline Celia Imrie at British Comedy Guide Photograph of Celia as Marianne Bellshade in 1982 in Bergerac Home Languages