Joanna Lumley: Why I absolutely won’t overdo the Christmas tipples

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Most people instantly picture Joanna Lumley as Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous – the glamorous, champagne-loving, and constantly smoking character she’s best known for.

Despite enjoying a cigarette, 79-year-old Dame Joanna rarely drinks alcohol, typically only having one glass of wine at Christmas. She says this is because she dislikes being around people who are intoxicated.

In an interview with Woman & Home magazine, accompanied by a photo of her holding champagne, she admitted she doesn’t drink much. She explained she dislikes the feeling of being tipsy and isn’t fond of people who are drunk.

‘I don’t smoke a lot, either. I’ve had two today and I’ll have four more.’

She graced the cover of the magazine’s holiday edition, sporting a beige coat and pants paired with a shimmering top, and a bright, cheerful smile.

Dame Joanna has confessed she felt constrained by her role as the grandmother in the popular Netflix series, Wednesday, created by Tim Burton.

As a lifestyle expert, I truly value having a sense of purpose and a plan for the future. I’m fortunate to have work lined up for the next several months, but honestly, I find it incredibly stressful not knowing what’s beyond that. I really thrive when I can look ahead, and this uncertainty is something I’m actively working to address.

It’s like I’m living without limits. I’ve always enjoyed the unpredictable nature of my work – one day I might earn just ten pounds, the next ten thousand. That’s what I love about being in the circus.

However, she’s certain about one thing: the highly anticipated reunion of the BBC show *Absolutely Fabulous* won’t be happening, disappointing many fans.

She used to say she’d be open to doing another project with Jennifer Saunders, but she’s now changed her mind. She stated firmly, ‘It’s not going to happen. Jennifer feels the same way, so I’m saying it’s finished.’

Dame Joanna has enjoyed a remarkable acting career lasting over five decades. She started with a role as a Bond girl in 1969, then became famous for playing the athletic spy Purdey in the 1970s series *The New Avengers*, and later delighted audiences as the hilariously tipsy Patsy Stone in *Absolutely Fabulous* during the 1990s.

In 2013, she shared a kiss with Leonardo DiCaprio in the movie *The Wolf of Wall Street*. More recently, she played the sharp-tongued mother of Lucy Punch’s character in the popular BBC comedy *Amandaland*.

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2025-10-18 02:05