Movies

`Joanna Lumley Reveals She’s Always Going to Be Cast as Grannies and Aunts Now`

BBG News

Joanna Lumley has shared that, given her current age, she is aware she will typically be offered roles as grandmothers or aunts in future productions.

In a recent interview on the Dish Podcast, the actress, now 78 years old, spoke about how she’s been garnering praise for various roles throughout her career, but has found herself taking on more challenging characters as “harsh,” “despicable,” and “snobbish” family matriarchs in her later acting years.

Joanna drew a parallel during their conversation about her character, Felicity – the snobbish mother in Amandaland, with Lucy Punch portraying her screen daughter in the title role.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, I must share my insights about a captivating new series that I’ve recently discovered. This show is a spin-off from the popular BBC comedy “Motherland,” and it follows the journey of Amanda, a woman who finds herself navigating life in the less glamorous borough of Harlesden. After an unexpected turn of events, she was forced to leave her comfortable home in Chiswick behind. This relocation serves as the backdrop for this engaging story that beautifully captures the essence of adjusting to change and embracing new beginnings.

During an interview with Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE, the Absolutely Fabulous star mentioned that when the show “Motherland” was airing and becoming very popular, there was a scene where Lucy Punch’s character, Amanda, had tea with her mother. The actress jokingly said, “One afternoon, they asked me to be her mother.

As a devoted admirer, allow me to express that subsequently, there seemed to be another part where I, myself, participated, yet the scene extended and I had minimal screen time.

In other words, as Motherland paused its narrative to delve deeper into Amanda (Lucy’s character), the role of the mother is set to appear more frequently in the storyline.

What a charming sight! Isn’t it delightful? You see, I often come off as a stern grandmother, a fierce great-aunt, or a strict stepmother. That’s just who I am.

While it may seem initially disheartening, I find solace in the beauty of the roles that come with age. Indeed, as life progresses, I might find myself being cast as grandmothers or aunts more frequently. However, it’s important to remember that these characters are not always portrayed as evil, vicious, or snobbish. Instead, they often embody wisdom, strength, and resilience – qualities that I strive to embody in my own life.

Nevertheless, the character I’ve created for Amandaland named Felicity is endearing due to her being a snob, as clearly indicated, and she expresses her disapproval towards Amanda living in a less than prestigious area of London.

As a lifestyle expert, I send my kids to a community school rather than the exclusive one I could afford, simply because I value the diverse learning environment it provides. After all, everyone deserves an education that broadens their horizons and prepares them for the real world.

However, during these instances, it appears as though some of her harshness is softening somewhat. Additionally, I have the feeling she might be becoming a bit disoriented or even slightly eccentric.

When talking about her debut scene in the series, she mentioned: “Initially, I would say upon arriving at the doorstep, ‘Allow me entry, it reeks of buses.’ However, they revised the line to, ‘Permit me entrance before I get mugged,’ as Felicity is quite snobbish about the neighborhood.

Additionally, she enters with a Waitrose bag, commenting that since you have whatever it is, it seems quite unpleasant, and suggests another supermarket instead.

There are numerous supermarkets, but none as good as Waitrose. When she enters, she carries a shopping bag from Waitrose, filled with items similar to those found at Waitrose.

During the interview, it was mentioned that Joanna, who has been a vegetarian for four decades, shared her preferred culinary styles as well.

In my perspective, it’s challenging to find a match for Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines. They simply overflow with an array of tantalizing flavors, spices, and exotic dishes. To be honest, I have a soft spot for Indian cuisine, especially their rich curries and various dishes.

I believe that countries such as Turkey offer some truly extraordinary culinary experiences, exquisite dishes, and unique wines that seem to be crafted rather unconventionally, Angela.

They store the wines by placing them in a large underground barrel, covering it, performing some footwork inside to mix them up, letting them sit, and later retrieving it.

‘So, they don’t do any of the things that we do, but they’ve been making wine for 8,000 years. 

It is believed that the Romans learned winemaking techniques in present-day Georgia. This has been supported by historical evidence. However, Georgian wine might not export efficiently or in large quantities, but let me tell you, some of the finest Georgian wines are truly extraordinary.

In 1986, the actress got married to her spouse, Stephen Barlow, and she also revealed the key to their enduring union.

She noted: “Adrian Edmondson provided the solution to that issue. He advised ‘Avoid divorce.’ Indeed, a lasting marriage is precisely that – avoiding divorce. However, it’s worth mentioning that, in my opinion, much of it hinges on mutual respect. You must respect your spouse.

‘You should genuinely appreciate their actions; you never experience disdain. If you ever find yourself feeling disdainful at any point, it would be best not to pursue a relationship with them. Instead, harbor genuine affection for them. Developing a crush might be an apt description.’

‘It’s important to be perpetually understanding, considering that everyone has their flaws. Also, avoid excessive time spent together to maintain personal space.’

‘Some people thrive in similar situations as Angela does. Others perform better after being away for a couple of days before diving back into the conversation… Just tell me honestly about your experiences. You see, when I got married, I vowed to always be truthful and loyal to you, which is exactly what I’m doing.’

Strive to act kindly towards them and always value them as someone extraordinary. In essence, cherish and appreciate them greatly.

Following the premiere of the initial episode of Amandaland last week, some spectators voiced their opinions on social media platforms, expressing that it seemed less enchanting compared to the original and inquiring as to why the BBC chose not to carry on with the cherished series.

In conversation with X, they mentioned: ‘Currently, Amanda’s land isn’t resonating as it should; I’m unsure if the character has the depth to sustain a series – it brings home the point of how excellent Motherland was.’

In AmandaLand, there’s not quite the sharpness found in Motherland, given its singular protagonist, which can make such distinctions trickier.

‘It’s just not the same is it #Amandaland,’

‘#Amandaland Yeh, I’m missing Julia,’

‘I know it’s episode 1 but it ain’t the same #Amandaland,’

‘This is rubbish, nowhere as good as Motherland #Amandaland,’

‘Not sure I can even watch another one! #awful #dontbother #amandaland.’

Dish from Waitrose is available on all podcast providers. 

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2025-02-12 03:28

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