Who is Joanna Lumley

Starting in 2008, Joanna Lumley became a fervent public campaigner for the rights of Gurkhas (who had served in the British Army) to be allowed to settle in Britain. Her vocal support on this issue forced the British Government to review its immigration policy. It eventually changed it so that those Gurkhas who had served more than four years in the army before 1997 were allowed to settle in the United Kingdom. Here are some clips of Ms. Lumley recorded during that campaign.

Although she can only be seen very briefly here, this was Joanna Lumley's film debut in Some Girls Do. It became her first move from modeling into acting.

During the 1970s, Joanna Lumley appeared in two episodes of the British comedy Are You Being Served? In this one, she stars as Miss French a perfume representative, pitching her products on the shop floor of Grace Brothers.

Joanna Lumley's big break came in 1976 when she was cast as the latest Avengers girl, Purdey. While the 1970s version of this classic show was not as successful as its predecessor, Joanna Lumley nevertheless left a lasting impression as the all action girl.

Joanna's next major television role was to appear opposite David McCallum in the weird and wonderful 1979 science fiction series, Sapphire and Steel. Brilliantly conceived and wonderfully played, Joanna starred as Sapphire, an element in human form who acted as a kind of time detective.

A taste of the real Joanna Lumley as she talks to Michael Parkinson during his last series of talk shows. Here she offers anecdotes on charm, her background, danger and The New Avengers.

One of Britain's best loved and most fondly remembered comedies is Absolutely Fabulous. Joanna starred as the often inebriated, and equally outrageous and unforgettable Patsy Stone in the role that most people associate with her.

To date, Sensitive Skin has been Joanna Lumley's last full series. A comedy drama, she stars as Davina Jackson, a 60 something art gallery worker who is trying to cope with the aging process as well as her personal happiness and the family and friends who surround her.