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Geraldine James

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Geraldine James
Born (1950-07-06) 6 July 1950 (age 74)
OccupationActress
Years active1973–present
Spouse
Joseph Blatchley
(m. 1986)

Geraldine James OBE (born 6 July 1950) is an English actress. She has worked extensively on television, on stage and in film. She is known for her role as Marilla Cuthbert in the Netflix series Anne with an E (2017–2019) and as Queen Mary in the 2019 film Downton Abbey.

Early life and education

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Geraldine James was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire, on 6 July 1950. Her father was a cardiologist.[1] Her parents divorced.[2] She failed her 11 plus exam, and was educated at Downe House School in Newbury, Berkshire, where she was known as Gerry Thomas. Embarrassed by her simple surname, James used the grander-sounding double-barrelled name of Vaughan-Thomas while at school.[3]

She studied drama at the Drama Centre London.[3]

Career

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After graduating from the Drama Centre, James spent three years in repertory theatre and school theatre.[3]

Her film credits include Gandhi (1982), The Tall Guy (1989), Sherlock Holmes (2009), Alice in Wonderland (2010), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), and 45 Years (2015).[citation needed]

From 2017 to 2019, she starred in the Netflix series Anne with an E as Marilla Cuthbert, and in the 2019 film Downton Abbey as Queen Mary.[citation needed]

In 2020 James voiced the spoken words on the track "All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World" ("Vista", "Ad Astra") on the album Human. :II: Nature. by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish.[4]

Awards and recognition

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James was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2004.[3]

Theatre director Peter Hall said that James ranks amongst the great English classical actresses.[5]

Year Nominated work Award Category Result Refs
1977 Dummy BAFTA TV Award Best Actress Nominated [6]
1984 The Jewel in the Crown BAFTA TV Award Best Actress Nominated
1989 She's Been Away Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actress Won [7][8]
1990 The Merchant of Venice Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Won
1990 The Merchant of Venice Tony Award Best Actress in a Play Nominated
1995 Band of Gold BAFTA TV Award Best Actress Nominated
2000 The Sins BAFTA TV Award Best Actress Nominated
2017 Anne with an E Canadian Screen Awards Best Supporting Actress, Drama Nominated
2018 Won [9]

Personal life

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James is married to actor and director Joseph Blatchley. They have a daughter.[2][10]

Selected stage roles

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Radio

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Date Title Role Director Station
21 February 20003 March 2000 The Hours Gaynor Macfarlane BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Drama
21 March 2003 Baldi: The Book Case Maggie Mark Lambert BBC Radio 4 Afternoon Play
19 April 2003 Turtle Diary Neaera Gaynor Macfarlane BBC Radio 4 Saturday Play
2005 The Raj Quartet Mildred Layton Jeremy Mortimer BBC Radio 4

Filmography

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Film

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Television

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References

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  1. ^ "Geraldine James Biography (1950-)". Film Reference.
  2. ^ a b Shannon, Sarah (7 April 2004). "Geraldine James: A talent to surprise". The Independent.
  3. ^ a b c d "Desert Island Discs - Geraldine James - BBC Sounds" (audio (45m) + text). www.bbc.co.uk. 30 May 2004. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  4. ^ Jay, Elle (20 April 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: Nightwish". The Rockpit. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Geraldine James" (17 December 2001) Woman's Hour, Radio 4, BBC
  6. ^ "Television | Actress in 1978" BAFTA
  7. ^ "Miss Geraldine James, OBE". Debrett's. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Triumph in Venice" (16 Sep 1989) The Guardian
  9. ^ "Anne with an E, Cardinal win big at Canadian Screen Awards". CBC. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Joseph Blatchley". Fontainebleau School of Acting. 16 April 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Hoffman as Shylock: London Critics Cool" (3 June 1989) New York Times
  12. ^ "'Merchant' role is jewel in James' crown" (29 Jan 1990) USA TODAY
  13. ^ McNary, Dave (30 August 2018). "Imelda Staunton, Geraldine James Join 'Downton Abbey' Movie".
  14. ^ "Michelle Dockery, Nicholas Pinnock and David Dawson announced for This Town, Steven Knight's original new drama series for the BBC". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  15. ^ Cordero, Rosy; Whittock, Jesse; Goldbart, Max (15 November 2023). "'Dope Girls': Julianne Nicholson & Eliza Scanlen To Lead BBC Drama About Female Crime Boss In Soho; Filming Underway". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
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