Celia Imrie

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
birthname = Celia Diana Savile Imrie
birthdate = birth date and age|1952|7|15|df=yes
birthplace = Guildford, Surrey, England
occupation = Actress
yearsactive = 1973–present
website = http://www.celiaimrie.com/
laurenceolivierawards = Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical
2006 ""
otherawards = 'The Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Actress in "The Sea"

Celia Diana Savile Imrie (born 15 July 1952) is an Olivier Award-winning English actress. In a career starting in the early 1970s, Imrie has played Marianne Bellshade in "Bergerac", Philippa Moorcroft in "dinnerladies", Diana Neal in "After You've Gone" and Gloria Millington in "Kingdom".

Career

Imrie trained at the Guildford School of Acting. Her films include "Nanny McPhee", "Hilary and Jackie" (playing Iris du Pré) and the 1997 film of "The Borrowers" where she played Homily Clock. Other films include "Bridget Jones's Diary", "Calendar Girls", "Highlander" and, as Fighter Pilot Bravo 5, in "". In 2004, Imrie played Doctor Imogen Reed in the schoolgirl thriller, "Out of Bounds".

Other series to feature Imrie include "The Nightmare Man", "Bergerac", "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit", "Absolutely Fabulous", "The Darling Buds of May" and "Upstairs, Downstairs". In the 2000 mini series of "Gormenghast" she played Lady Gertrude. She also had a guest appearance in an episode of the Scottish TV sitcom "Still Game" in 2003, where she played a home help called Mrs Begg. She also appeared in the 2005 BBC television drama "Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle", playing the part of a teacher taking an unruly party of pupils on a daytrip to Salisbury Cathedral.

Her radio work includes parts in BBC Radio 4's "No Commitments", "Adventures of a Black Bag", and "Bleak Expectations". In early 2007, she narrated the book "Arabella", broadcast over two weeks as the "Book at Bedtime". She has also starred in the BBC sitcom, "After You've Gone", alongside Nicholas Lyndhurst and in the ITV1 drama "Kingdom", with Stephen Fry.

Her most recent film appearance is "St Trinian's" in 2007 as the Matron, alongside Stephen Fry, Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Russell Brand and Mischa Barton.

Victoria Wood & Miss Babs

Imrie is perhaps best known for her frequent collaborations with Victoria Wood, with whom she has appeared in TV programmes such as the sitcom "dinnerladies" and sketch show "Victoria Wood As Seen On TV". It was on the latter show in 1985 that she first played the infamous part of Miss Babs, owner of "Acorn Antiques", a parody of the low budget British soap opera "Crossroads".

These sketches became such a British institution that the show were turned into a West End musical in 2005 starring most of the original cast (see the picture on the right). Imrie won an Olivier Award for her performance. [ [http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/awards/winners#Other Past Winners | The Official London Theatre Guide ] ] The character has curly blonde hair, and is known for her frequent parodic flirations with the customers, and her abuse of the housekeeper Mrs Overall (portrayed by fellow actress Julie Walters.)

Personal life

Imrie, fourth of five children, was born in Guildford, Surrey, the daughter of Diana and David, a radiologist from Glasgow, Scotland. [ [http://www.fabulousdames.com/Celia/celiaadventure.htm Celia Imrie - Awfully big adventure ] ] By actor Benjamin Whitrow, she has a son, Angus, who appears as her on-screen son in "Kingdom". She lives in London and in Cowes (in the Isle of Wight). [ [http://www.isleofwighttouristguide.com/Articles/Article_22.asp Isle of Wight - Famous Residents] ] She also attended the Isle of Wight Festival in 2008. [ [http://www.contactmusic.com/photos.nsf/main/celia_imrie_1921709 Celia Imrie attends Isle of Wight Festival] ]

elected Awards and Nominations

*WON (1992) The Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Actress in "The Sea" [ [http://members.aol.com/actorsite/citz/ciindex.htm Celia Imrie ] ]
*WON (2006) The Laurence Olivier Award for "Acorn Antiques:The Musical!" [ [http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/display?contentId=88083 Celia Imrie wins Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Official London Theatre Guide ] ]

Real life quotes

*On George Lucas: “He's very cool, as you'd expect....He asked me to take off my lipstick though. As I was going to be the first female pilot they'd ever used, I thought I'd put on some lipstick, and make an effort.”
*On Star Wars: “I'm amazed anyone recognised me covered up in that hat and goggles. The casting director had seen me in a Harold Pinter play and asked me to be in Star Wars - how bizarre is that? I think I was originally up for the part of the mother at the beginning of the film but, when I didn't get it, they asked me to be a fighter pilot instead. I can't pretend I was a life-long Star Wars fan but I did think it would be rather cool for my son if his mum was in the film. He was little at the time so, when we went to see it, he went to sleep and missed me, but he got to see it with his school friends later. None of us knew what the story was, though. Because the producers are so worried about leaks, we had no idea how we fitted into the film. It was just terribly exciting to be on the set and part of a phenomenon like Star Wars.”
*When she won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2006, she stated that she would display it “very prominently in my bedroom so I can see it when I wake up in the morning!”
*On her first solo show: “"I never thought I'd do something on my own", she says, "Sometimes you get to a first night and think you're going to die with fright. But then you hold your nose and jump in and it disappears. And the feeling afterwards! That first drink is fantastic!”
*On Alan Bates: “"I'd known him for years and absolutely adored him. He really is naughty. Terrible. Or was, God bless him. But then, you see, Dame Judi's got that too. Everybody who's ever been one of my heroes is very naughty. Naughty sense of humour. Naughty sparkle in their eye."
*On Victoria Wood: “I first met her through her university friends in Birmingham. I was in the room applauding when she won New Faces and she then rather loyally came to see me in a chorus line in a pantomime. She's been terribly loyal to me and I'm very proud to be working with her at the moment.”
*On her character in ‘Wah-Wah’: A” friend of mine came to see a screening and said, 'Ceels, I was longing for you to suddenly become funny. And you didn't'. I said, 'I know, it's quite weird isn't it?' Originally Richard offered me another part but I said, 'yes, but what about this old bag?' ”
*On motherhood and marriage: "I can admire people who want to do it, who actually plunge into this lifelong thing with no way out, but I'd just feel trapped", she has said. "All that certainty. No surprises. I love not knowing what's going to happen next. Better to be independent if you can, I think." Perhaps it's got something to do with growing up in the 1950s. "I'm not sure the generation of young women that's coming up now has any idea what went on then. Not that they have to be grateful or anything, but I think they're completely unaware of what used to be. Which is quite alarming. Divorce was terribly frowned upon. When I was growing up 'a divorcee' really had the same besmirching as someone who had an illegitimate baby. Mother really didn't approve of that at all. It wasn't done. I'm afraid I broke that rule too."
*Whilst filming "Kingdom":"I've got a gorgeous place in Swaffham [in Norfolk] with a beautiful garden and I really love the market there. I also love Wells and Holkham. I love walking on the pathway from Wells Quay to the beach. Wells is naturally beautiful and has the candy floss as well. It is a marvellous mix." [ [http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=NOED27%20Jul%202008%2016%3A17%3A56%3A727 Celia Imrie opens a village fete whilst filming "Kingdom" with Stephen Fry] ]

Filmography

Film

*2007 - "St Trinian's"
*2006 - "Acorn Antiques"
*2005 - "Imagine Me & You"
*2005 - "Wah-Wah"
*2005 - "Nanny McPhee"
*2004 - ""
*2004 - "Wimbledon"
*2004 - "Out of Bounds"
*2004 - "Reuben Don't Take Your Love To Town"
*2003 - "Calendar Girls"
*2002 - "Heartlands"
*2002 - "Thunderpants"
*2001 - "Revelation"
*2001 - "Lucky Break"
*2001 - "Bridget Jones's Diary"
*1999 - ""
*1998 - "Hiccup"
*1998 - "Hilary and Jackie"
*1997 - "The Borrowers"
*1995 - "A Midwinter's Tale"
*1994 - "Frankenstein"
*1992 - "Blue Black Permanent"
*1991 - "The Harmfulness of Tobacco"
*1986 - "Highlander"
*1983 - "The Wicked Lady"
*1978 - "Death on the Nile"
*1974 - "House of Whipcord"
*1973 - "Assassin"

Television

*2007 - "Kingdom"
*2007 - "After You've Gone"
*2006 - "Where The Heart Is" : "Walk of Faith"
*2006 - "Agatha Christie's Poirot": "Taken at the Flood"
*2006 - "The Lavender List"
*2005 - "Mr. Harvey Lights a Candle"
*2005 - "The Making of Acorn Antiques! The Musical"
*2005 - "A BAFTA Tribute to Victoria Wood"
*2004 - "Marple": "The 4.50 From Paddington"
*2004 - "Doc Martin": "Going Bodmin"
*2004 - "Jonathan Creek": "Gorgons Wood"
*2003 - "Still Game" : "Wummin'"
*2003 - "The Planman"
*2002 - "Doctor Zhivago"
*2002 - "Daniel Deronda"
*2002 - "A is for Acid"
*2002 - "Sparkhouse"
*2002 - "The Gathering Storm"
*2002 - "Heartbeat": "The Shoot"
*2001 - "Victoria Wood's Sketch Show Story"
*2001 - "Station Jim"
*2001 - "Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)": "Revenge of the Bog People"
*2001 - "Absolutely Fabulous": "Menopause"
*2001 - "Midsomer Murders": "Dark Autumn"
*2001 - "Baddiel's Syndrome": "Inventions Now"
*2001 - "Love in a Cold Climate"
*2000 - "Victoria Wood With All The Trimmings"
*2000 - "Dalziel & Pascoe": "Above the Law"
*2000 - "Gormenghast"
*1999 - "A Christmas Carol"
*1999 - "Hilltop Hospital"
*1999 - "Hetty Winthropp Investigates"
*1998 - "dinnerladies"
*1998 - "Duck Patrol": "River Rage"
*1997 - "Mr. White Goes to Westminster"
*1997 - "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling"
*1997 - "Wokenwell"
*1997 - "Hospital!"
*1997 - "Into the Blue"
*1997 - "The Canterville Ghost"
*1996 - "The Writing on the Wall"
*1996 - "Blackhearts In Battersea"
*1995 - "Absolutely Fabulous": "Jealous"
*1994 - "The Return of the Native"
*1994 - "Pat and Margaret"
*1994 - "A Dark Adapted Eye"
*1993 - "A Question of Guilt"
*1993 - "The Riff Raff Element"
*1993 - "Bonjour la Classe": "Red Card"
*1992 - "Van der Valk": "Still Waters"
*1992 - "Victoria Wood's All Day Breakfast"
*1991 - "Stay Lucky": "The Food of Love"
*1991 - "The Darling Buds of May": "When the Green Woods Laugh (Parts 1 & 2)"
*1991 - "Lovejoy": "The Italian Venus"
*1990 - "102 Boulevard Haussman"
*1990 - "Old Flames"
*1990 - "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit"
*1990 - "The World of Eddie Weary"
*1989 - "Victoria Wood": "Staying In"
*1989 - "Victoria Wood": "Val De Ree (Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha)"
*1989 - "Victoria Wood": "We'd Quite Like to Apologise"
*1989 - "Murder by Moonlight"
*1989 - "The New Statesman": "May the Best Man Win"
*1988 - "An Audience with Victoria Wood"
*1988 - "The New Statesman": "Alan B'Stard Closes Down the BBC"
*1988 - "Taggart": "Root of Evil"
*1987 - "Acting": "Michael Caine on Acting in Film"
*1985 - "Victoria Wood As Seen On TV"
*1982 - "Bergerac"
*1982 - "Cloud Howe"
*1981 - "81 Take 2"
*1981 - "The Nightmare Man"
*1980 - "Shoestring": The "Dangerous Game"
*1980 - "To the Manor Born": "Vive Le Sport"
*1979 - "To the Manor Born": "A Touch of Class"
*1974 - "Upstairs, Downstairs": "Missing Believed Killed"
*1974 - "Upstairs, Downstairs": "If You Were the Only Girl in the World"

Theatrography [ [http://www.celiaimrie.com/stage.html The NEW Official website for Celia Imrie ] ]

col-1-of-3
*2006 - "Singular Women" [ [http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/shows/display/cm/contentId/88591 Singular Women, King's Head | Official London Theatre Guide ] ]
*2005 - "Unsuspecting Susan"
*2005 - "Acorn Antiques The Musical!"
*2003 - "Unsuspecting Susan"
*2003 - "The Way of The World"
*1998 - "The School for Scandal"
*1997 - "Dona Rosita The Spinster"
*1996 - "Habeas Corpus"
*1995 - "The Hothouse"
*1991 - "The Sea"
*1990 - "No one Sees The Video"
*1990 - "Hangover Square"
*1990 - "In Pursuit of The English"
*1988 - "The Madwoman of Chaillot"
*1988 - "Doctor Angelus"
*1987 - "Yerma"
*1987 - "School For Wives"
*1986 - "Last Waltz"
*1985 - "The Philanthropist" col-2-of-3
*1985 - "Particular Friendships"
*1984 - "When I Was A Girl I Used To Scream and Shout"
*1984 - "The Merchant of Venice"
*1984 - "Alfie"
*1983 - "Webster"
*1983 - "Sirocco"
*1983 - "The Merchant of Venice"
*1983 - "Custom of the Country"
*1983 - "Arms and the Man"
*1982 - "The Screens"
*1982 - "Philosophy of the Boudoir"
*1982 - "Puss In Boots"
*1982 - "Puntila and Matti, Master and Servant"
*1981 - "A Waste of Time"
*1981 - "Heaven and Hell"
*1980 - "Seduced" col-3-of-3
*1979 - "Pygmalion"
*1979 - "The Good Humoured Ladies"
*1978 - "'Tis Pity She's a Whore"
*1978 - "Macbeth"
*1978 - "Cabaret"
*1978 - "As You Like It"
*1977 - "The Boyfriend"
*1977 - "Love's Labour's Lost"
*1977 - "Henry V"
*1976 - "The Adventures of Alice"
*1976 - "Sherlock Holmes"
*1976 - "Now Here's A Funny Thing"

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0408309|name=Celia Imrie
* [http://www.celiaimrie.com/index.html Official website]
* [http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/display?contentId=88083 Celia Imrie Wins] "Olivier Award"
* [http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=1111&in_page_id=11 Interview with Celia Imrie]
* [http://www.theforce.net/episode1/oldpreq/cast/imrie.html Celia Imrie talks about] "Star Wars"
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2007/12/15/et-heaven-imrie-115.xml Celia Imrie Article with "The Daily Telegraph"]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/jersey/content/image_galleries/bergerac_series_gallery.shtml?2 Photograph of Celia as Marianne Bellshade in 1982] in Bergerac
* [http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=News&itemid=NOED27%20Jul%202008%2016%3A17%3A56%3A727 Celia Imrie opens a fête in Norfolk.]