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It was Lumley wot won it. Years of government intransigence over the rights of Gurkhas was finally overturned this week by an actress most famous for playing the reeling, chain-smoking, toyboy-shagging drunk Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous.
Not a great role model, you'd think. But it's hard to name a celebrity better able to fight for a cause, and bring about an all-party consensus and a government defeat, than Joanna Lumley. Vanessa Redgrave? Diana Rigg? Helen Mirren, even? I don't think so.
There are reasons beyond the obvious for Lumley's influence. Yes, she is as classily beautiful today - her 63rd birthday - as she was when she first high-kicked her way into our consciousness as Purdey in The New Avengers in 1976. But from the start she appealed equally to both sexes.
Action girl Purdey sparked a passion for bob haircuts among women, as well as for leggy girls with cut-glass accents among men.
Born in India, where her father was a major in the 6th Gurkha Rifles, Lumley embodies a certain kind of upright Englishness. Unfashionably but unquestionably, this has its roots in the values of the Empire.
She is posh, but not too posh, sensible, imbued with a sense of duty, and not afraid of mucking in and getting her hands dirty.
Lumley is a fine but unashamedly untrained actress, having started out as a model after attending Lucie Clayton's finishing school.
Although she's done her time on stage and film - tellingly, she's as proud of being a Bond girl in On Her Majesty's Secret Service in 1969 as she is of doing Chekhov in Sheffield last year - her greatest success has been in the most democratic medium, television.
She's famous but unshowy, not quite one of us but near enough. I live in the same bit of south London as Lumley and she turns out for local events. I've seen her un-made-up, buying beans in our local Sainsbury's, smiling at those who stop and stare.
She doesn't apologise for her glamour nor does she fetishise it. Lumley roughed it for 10 days on a desert island in Girl Friday in 1994, and again recently in Norway on her journey to see the Northern Lights.
Patsy was a brilliant piece of self-deprecating debunking. Details of her private life - a son from a Sixties relationship, two marriages - seeped out slowly enough to preserve her mystique and prevent prurience.
Similarly, she doesn't shout about her politics but is passionately committed to the causes that are properly close to her heart: animal charities (she's vegetarian), mental-health groups, human-rights campaigns for Nepal and Burma and, of course, the Gurkhas. So when she speaks out, we listen. And MPs' hard hearts melt.
Lumley should be justly proud of Patsy and Purdey, of negotiating the minefields of fame and beauty for four decades without putting a foot wrong.
But you just know these things will pale for her beside the part she played in championing residential rights in Britain for the Gurkhas. Well done, Ms Lumley. And happy birthday.
Reader views (14)
Always was in love with Joanna. Now I know why.
She is a heroine as well as a classy actess!
- Patrick Gardner, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, 22/05/2009 13:28
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I have always admired Joanna, but even more so now. If we had MPs like her maybe this country would become great again. Well done
- Bernadette, Manchester, 21/05/2009 13:15
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As an ex serviceman who has served with the Gurkas in Hong Kong I am ashamed of those who have our country in their hands and treat those who defend it in such low regards. The stand in the House of parliment praising our troops in one breath and treated them different behind closed doors. Hypocrites is what they are (especially now with the claims scenario) how far would that money gone to help the Gurkhas???
- Howard Hayes, Icmeler Turkey, 21/05/2009 12:15
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She was every boys dream back in the Avengers and is still doing a good job today, wonderful news about her crusade. Down to earth with a sense of pride. It's a shame that our MP's are not the same. Saw her in a wine bar in Chelsea in the 80's. Wished now I had bought her a drink then, but would gladly buy her a drink now. Well done Joanna
- Alan, Croydon UK, 21/05/2009 12:15
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Isn't it about time that these politicians learned that the Gurkhas have " earned " the right to be treated as exceptions . ( and their families )
Well done Joanna.
- James C. Bruce, berwick upon tweed. England/Scotland, 21/05/2009 12:15
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Funny isn't it, that if you heard there was a crowd of Gurkhas in the street brandishing knives, you'd feel safer?
- Mdj E10, london uk, 21/05/2009 12:15
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Well written, Nick Curtis. I also second Colin Macpherson's comment.
How about it Ms Lumley? Us Brits need someone with their feet on the ground who is not bounded by all this "politically correct" nonsense.
You have more commonsense in your little finger than any of the eejit mentalities of the majority of MPs - all parties, not just Labour. I'm sure there are plenty of others in the UK who would like to see you stand for Parliament. This country needs a fighting figurehead to bring it back to its once great past.
Go on girl - go for it!
- M A Lovett, Benfleet, UK, 21/05/2009 12:15
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How can this Goverment be so out of touch, the same Goverment who have given us uncontrolled mass immigration, letting evry undesirable possible into this country, The same Goverment who created laws that grant legal aid to rapists, murderers, and anybody else who does not want to be deported. And then will not allow somebody who has been seriously injured fighting for this country access to the NHS. You could not make it up.
- Steve M, LONDON, 21/05/2009 12:15
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Well said, Nick Curtis.
- Just-James, Tunbridge Wells, UK, 21/05/2009 12:15
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Ms Lumley is a true English rose in every sense, a pukkah binta to mix two Colonial languages. I grew up in Aden; like many from the Colonies 30 years ago I married a lady from the Colonies, mine of Indian extraction, from what used to be British Guiana. We share the same values. My long time friend, born in India has married Malayan, another HK Chinese.
The one question which we have recently discussed whilst at tiffin is why our wives, all 60 now, are not quite as fanciable as Ms Lumley?
As we grasp onto our memorable past we ask the obvious question why, us sons of Colonial places, far and wide, have married out of our Nation. We can put it down to having Aya's [Nannies] but they were never fanciable] and can find no other reason.
Well done Ms Lumley and well done Gurkhas everywhere.
- Paul, London, 21/05/2009 12:15
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Joanna Lumley is a National Treasure. She is everything that most politicians aren't
including being patriotic without fear of being racist.
Martin
- Martin, Bracknell England, 21/05/2009 12:15
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Finally someone we can be proud of in the press....
- Amoreno, Luxembourg, 21/05/2009 12:15
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i think it is shocking,these people fought to defend the british goverment and fought side by side tirelessly with our soldiers.
they have earned the right to be in our country and should not battle for the right,the government should be ashamed.
good for joanna.
- Sue Hood, south shields tyne and wear, 21/05/2009 12:15
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Now finish the job Ms Lumley and stand for Parliament! The sooner we have someone in there with common sense and decency the sooner Britain will be off its knees. Could I suugest you stand against the current Home Secretary,
you know, the spineless vindictive one!
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France, 21/05/2009 12:15
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