Dame Joanna Lumley was quick to set the record straight when an interviewer probed too deeply into her private life with husband Stephen Barlow.
The 78-year-old actress, known for her role in ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, made it clear that singing along with her husband, a respected conductor, at home is something she would “never” do.
Despite their recent collaboration on the podcast ‘Joanna Lumley and The Maestro’, during her interview with The Telegraph, Joanna “looked genuinely horrified” at the suggestion, stating: “He works with opera singers, Mick.”
She admitted to enjoying music and singing around the house but firmly denied any duets with her husband, adding: “But I would never lovingly lean on his shoulder and sing while he played. We’re not that family.”
Lumley’s latest project sees her acting with Lucy Punch in ‘Amandaland’, a spin-off of the hit BBC series ‘Motherland’. As the show’s premiere approaches, interest in the personal lives of its stars has surged.
In a candid chat with womanandhome, Dame Joanna opened up about her life after perimenopause and menopause, expressing excitement for each new birthday instead of apprehension. She urged people to have a positive view of ageing and to look forward to future adventures, reports the Mirror.
Joanna has spoken out about her optimistic view on getting older, saying she has always looked forward to ageing and gaining wisdom.
“I always knew that good stuff would come along when I was older. So when I was 18, I longed to be 30; when I was 30, I longed to be 50. I’ve always looked forward to my next birthday,” she revealed.
With age, Lumley has found a sense of clarity, stating that: “We mustn’t be led into thinking getting old is bad. Growing old is good. I used to panic and get rattled when I was young, but as I’ve got older, I’ve started literally to live day to day. With age, you work out what matters.”
She has also been a long-time advocate for human rights, supporting causes like Survival International and the Gurkha Justice Campaign.
She has been critical of trophy hunting, stating in 2023 that: “We have a responsibility to help protect wildlife. Trophy hunting is helping drive endangered animals to extinction. Anyone who makes excuses for these people should hang their head in shame.”
Recently, in December 2024, Lumley backed a campaign to tackle loneliness among Britain’s elderly population.