Imelda Staunton
Known for
Few actors have made politeness as terrifying as Imelda Staunton did playing Dolores Umbridge in the 'Harry Potter' films (2007-2011). Born in London in 1956, she built her reputation on the British stage, winning multiple Olivier Awards, before her devastating lead performance in Mike Leigh's 'Vera Drake' (2004) brought an Oscar nomination. Her later work includes voicing Aunt Lucy in 'Paddington' (2014) and playing Queen Elizabeth II in the final seasons of 'The Crown' (2022-2023). A character actress of remarkable range, she moves between musical theatre, period drama and razor-sharp comedy with equal command.
Imelda Staunton
66 Movies
28 Series
Few actors have made politeness as terrifying as Imelda Staunton did playing Dolores Umbridge in the 'Harry Potter' films (2007-2011). Born in London in 1956, she built her reputation on the British stage, winning multiple Olivier Awards, before her devastating lead performance in Mike Leigh's 'Vera Drake' (2004) brought an Oscar nomination. Her later work includes voicing Aunt Lucy in 'Paddington' (2014) and playing Queen Elizabeth II in the final seasons of 'The Crown' (2022-2023). A character actress of remarkable range, she moves between musical theatre, period drama and razor-sharp comedy with equal command.
Movies
Plays Dolores Umbridge
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
2010
Plays Dolores Umbridge
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2007
Plays Talking Flowers (voice)
Alice in Wonderland
2010
Plays Aunt Lucy (voice)
Paddington in Peru
2024
Plays Knotgrass
Maleficent
2014
Plays Knotgrass
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
2019
Plays Aunt Lucy (voice)
Paddington 2
2017
Plays Bunty (voice)
Chicken Run
2000
Plays Margaret Campbell
Freedom Writers
2007
Plays Charlotte Jennings Palmer
Sense and Sensibility
1995
Plays Aunt Lucy (voice)
Paddington
2014
Plays Mrs Santa (voice)
Arthur Christmas
2011
Plays Mrs. Blatherwick
Nanny McPhee
2005
Plays Maud Bagshaw
Downton Abbey
2019
Plays Bunty (voice)
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
2023
Plays Nurse
Shakespeare in Love
1998
Plays Queen Victoria (voice)
The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!
2012
Plays Maud Hill
The Awakening
2011
Plays Maud Bagshaw
Downton Abbey: A New Era
2022
Plays Hefina
Pride
2014
Plays Margaret
Much Ado About Nothing
1993
Plays Mrs. Burakov
Citizen X
1995
Plays Sonia Teichberg
Taking Woodstock
2009
Plays Vera Drake
Vera Drake
2004
Plays Janet
Another Year
2010
Plays Ambassador Cochran
Shadow Man
2006
Plays Mary Charleston
Peter's Friends
1992
Plays Isabel
& Sons
2026
Plays Sister Claire
Amulet
2020
Plays Maria
Twelfth Night
1996
Plays Sandra Abbott
Finding Your Feet
2017
Plays Mrs. Cottisloe
Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings
2000
Plays Lady Brown
Bright Young Things
2003
Plays Lorna
Remember Me?
1997
Plays Scruffy (voice)
The Ugly Duckling
1997
Plays Bridget
Blackball
2003
Plays Rosemary Cassidy
Three and Out
2008
Plays Dr. Bridget
I'll Be There
2003
Plays Hazel Nightingale
How About You...
2007
Plays Conchita Flynn
Rat
2000
Plays Janine
Crush
2002
Plays Ivy / Angorra
The Snow Queen
1995
Plays Mary
A Bunch of Amateurs
2008
Plays Ethel Graydon
Another Life
2001
Plays Naomi
Guilty Hearts
2007
Plays Bridget Bennet
Don't Leave Me This Way
1993
Plays Beth Greenwood
Deadly Advice
1994
Plays Betsy Loveless
Comrades
1987
Plays Rose
Gypsy
2015
Plays Jane Hartman
Antonia and Jane
1990
TV Shows
Plays Twiba / Ruby (voice)
Big & Small
2008
Plays Queen Elizabeth II
The Crown
2016
Plays Miss Pole
Cranford
2007
Plays Karen Edwards
A Confession
2019
Plays Grace Andrews
Psychoville
2009
Plays Staff Nurse White
The Singing Detective
1986
Plays Muriel Spry
If You See God, Tell Him
1993
Plays DCI Billie Dory
Murder
2002
Plays Mary Bennett
Flesh and Blood
2020
Plays Polly Flinders
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries
1987
Plays Mrs. Sucksby
Fingersmith
2005
Plays Penny
Trying
2020
Plays The Queen
Cambridge Spies
2003
Plays Mrs. Micawber
David Copperfield
1999
Plays Christine Cooper
Midsomer Murders
1997
Plays Sarah
Tales from the Crypt
1989
Plays Jenny Beales
Performance
1991
Plays Reverend Mary Truegood
Strange
2003
Plays Interface (voice)
Doctor Who
2005
Plays Rowena Rabbit (voice)
Lily's Driftwood Bay
2014
Plays Irene Ruddock
Alan Bennett's Talking Heads
2020
Plays Susan
Frank Stubbs Promotes
1993
Plays Mrs. Mead
Little Britain
2003
Plays The Producer
Screen Two
1985
Plays Mary Price
Playhouse
1974
Plays Edith
Ladies in Charge
1986
Plays Jane Hartman
ScreenPlay
1986
Plays Cheryl Newman
The Play on One
1988
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
& Sons
Full Filmography
& Sons
Isabel
2026
Film
National Theatre Live: Mrs. Warren's Profession
Mrs Peggy Warren
2025
Film
Paddington in Peru
Aunt Lucy (voice)
2024
Film
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget
Bunty (voice)
2023
Film
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Maud Bagshaw
2022
Film
Alan Bennett's Talking Heads
Irene Ruddock · 1 episode
2020
TV
Amulet
Sister Claire
2020
Film
Trying
Penny · 2 episodes
2020–
TV
Flesh and Blood
Mary Bennett · 4 episodes
2020–
TV
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Imelda Staunton and where are they from?
Imelda Staunton is 70 years old, born on January 9, 1956 in Archway, London, England, UK.
What are the most famous roles of Imelda Staunton?
Imelda Staunton is best known for roles in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Alice in Wonderland.
How many movies has Imelda Staunton been in?
Over a 44-year career (since 1982), Imelda Staunton has appeared in 66 movies and 28 TV shows.
What was Imelda Staunton's first movie?
The career of Imelda Staunton began with Easy Money (1982).
What is Imelda Staunton's most recent movie or series?
Imelda Staunton's most recent release is Testimony, which premiered on November 21, 2025.
What TV shows has Imelda Staunton appeared in?
On television, Imelda Staunton has appeared in Doctor Who, The Crown, Tales from the Crypt, Midsomer Murders.
Does Imelda Staunton have any upcoming projects?
Yes, Imelda Staunton's upcoming work includes: & Sons (2026).
Imelda Staunton
1956-01-09 · Archway, London, England, UK
Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton (born January 9, 1956) is an English actress and singer. After training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Staunton began her career in repertory theatre in 1976 and appeared in various theatre productions in the United Kingdom.
Staunton has performed in a variety of plays and musicals in London throughout her career, winning four Laurence Olivier Awards; three for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for her roles in the musicals Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and Gypsy, and one for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Play for her work in both A Chorus of Disapproval and The Corn is Green. Her other stage appearances include The Beggar's Opera, The Wizard of Oz, Uncle Vanya, Guys and Dolls, Entertaining Mr Sloane, and Good People. She has been nominated for 13 Olivier Awards.
On film, Staunton starred in Antonia and Jane; in several supporting roles in Kenneth Branagh's comedy Peter's Friends, his adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing; Ang Lee's adaptation of Sense and Sensibility; and the costume romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love. She drew critical acclaim for her performance in the title role in Mike Leigh's Vera Drake, for which she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role and the Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actress, in addition to being nominated for Best Actress by the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. She later gained a wider audience for her portrayal as Dolores Umbridge in the Harry Potter films The Order of the Phoenix and The Deathly Hallows - Part 1. She continued supporting roles in Nanny McPhee, reunited with Leigh in Another Year, and the film continuation of Downton Abbey. She portrayed human rights activist Hefina Headon in the historical film Pride, and starred in the British comedy Finding Your Feet. She also provided voice acting roles for the films Chicken Run, Arthur Christmas, and Paddington.
On television, Staunton starred in the sitcoms Up the Garden Path and Is it Legal?. Her performance in My Family and Other Animals earned her a nomination for the International Emmy Award for Best Actress, while her roles in Return to Cranford and The Girl earned her BAFTA TV Award nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. For the latter, she was also nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. She portrayed Queen Elizabeth II in the final two seasons of The Crown.