Anecdotes

Turned down a recurring role in Beautés désespérées (2004).

She was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1991 (1990 season) for Best Actress in a Musical for "Into the Woods".

Won the Olivier Award as Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in "Sweeney Todd" (2013).

She said that her idols are Bette Davis, Vivien Leigh and Maya Angelou.

She was nominated for the 1997 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Musical of the 1996 season for her performance in "Guys and Dolls".

Appeared with her husband Jim Carter in the television series Cranford (2007).

Gave birth to her only child at age 37, a daughter, Bessie Carter, on October 25, 1993. Child's father is her husband, Jim Carter.

Met her husband-to-be Jim Carter when they both appeared in the revival of the Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls" at the National Theatre, London (1982).

Has a beautiful singing voice, heard in the film Les amis de Peter (1992).

Her talent agent is the mother of Freddie Highmore.

She was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1986 (1985 season) for Best Performance in a Supporting a Role for "A Chorus of Disapproval" and "The Corn is Green".

Graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London, England (1976). Became an Associate Member of the Academy.

Played an educational bureaucrat in two films in 2007: Écrire pour exister (2007) and Harry Potter et l'ordre du Phénix (2007).

Daughter of Joseph (1933-2010) and Bridie (née McNicholas) Staunton (1934-2004). Both were born and raised in County Mayo, Ireland and immigrated to London with their families after World War II.

At 14, she played Polly Peachum in a school production of the musical "The Beggar's Opera".

An only child, she attended La Sainte Union Convent, a convent school in the north of London.

One of 112 invitees to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in 2005.

She was awarded the 1985 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama Theatre Award) for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in "A Chorus of Disapproval" and "The Corn is Green".

February - May 2017: Appeared as "Martha" in the West End revival of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" at the Harold Pinter Theatre, which also features Conleth Hill ("George"), Imogen Poots ("Honey") and Luke Treadaway ("Nick").

She won the "Coppa Volpi" award for her performance in Vera Drake (2004) at the 2004 Venice Film Festvial. The movie "Vera Drake" also won the "Gold Lion" award for the best movie at the same event.

Offered a role in the fantasy romantic comedy Ma sorcière bien-aimée (2005).

She was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2024 King's New Years Honours List for her services to Drama and to Charity. She is an actress in London, England.

She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2006 Queen's New Years Honours List and the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2016 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to drama. She is an actress in London, England.

Imelda Staunton portrayed Alma Hitchcock in the film The Girl. Helen Mirren portrayed Alma Hitchcock in the film Hitchcock. Both Imelda Staunton and Helen Mirren and have portrayed Queen Elizabeth II: Imelda Staunton in The Crown and Helen Mirren in The Queen.