Table of Contents
Joanna Lumley’s marriage to Stephen Barlow has been an inspiration to fans and celebrities alike. The veteran actress and BBC star, who has been married for over three decades, recently shared secrets about a long-lasting marriage.
Lumley has enjoyed a successful acting career spanning several decades. However, she enjoyed a brief stint in modeling for three years before she kicked off her acting career in 1969 with an uncredited role in “Some Girls Do.”
The 73-year-old actress got her career breakthrough when she starred as a Bond girl in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” in 1967, which was followed by a career-defining role in the 70s Tv series “The New Avengers.”
Joanna also starred in Sapphire and Steel in 1979. However, she earned critical acclaim for her role as Patsy in the popular series Absolutely Fabulous, which first aired in 1992.
More recently, Joanna has been fairly critical about the #MeToo movement and claimed people are quite eager to identify themselves as victims. While referencing her modeling days, the actress revealed women were tougher back then and took care of themselves as she spoke about sexism and harassment.
Joanna Lumley in a suit as Purdey, in the Avengers in the 1970s. Swoon! pic.twitter.com/3rBEcvxuxn
— Marie-Pierre CLERET (@MPCleret) February 7, 2023
About Joanna Lumley’s Marriage to Stephen Barlow
Although Joanna has enjoyed an illustrious career spanning nearly six decades, she still has a great work-life balance.
The one-time model has been married to her husband, Stephen Barlow, for over thirty years — more than half her career lifespan. During this time, Joanna Lumley’s marriage has largely stayed clear of any controversies.
The duo tied the knot in 1986 and currently lives in London. The couple also split their time between Scotland, where they also own a home. Interestingly, Joanna has a son James also known as Jamie, from her previous relationship with photographer Michael Claydon.
Lumley Opens Up
At a time when married couples are struggling to make their relationship work, especially within the showbiz industry, it is always inspiring to see long-lasting marriages like that of Joanna and Stephen get some recognition.
More recently, the evergreen actress opened up about the secret of her long-lasting marriage to Stephen. The mother of one noted that it is important not to “look down” on one’s partner.
While reflecting on her nearly 4-decades long marriage, Joana heaped special praise on her husband, describing him as “brilliant” and “fantastic.” She also admitted she felt lucky to still be married to her husband for this long. While speaking to The Radio Times, she said:
“I admire my husband. I admire him because he’s brilliant. I think he’s fantastic. I feel lucky to be married to such a brilliant and amazing person.”
She continued:
“It’s important that you don’t look down on your partner.”
The BAFTA Award winner has been a true professional throughout her career, and how she has managed to develop a great work-life balance is worth getting some praise and emulation from the upcoming stars.