Early life

Staunton was born in Archway, North London, the only child of Bridie (née McNicholas), a hairdresser, and Joseph Staunton, a road-worker and labourer. The family lived over Staunton's mother's hair dressing salon. Her parents were first-generation Catholic immigrants from County Mayo, Ireland; her father from Ballyvary and her mother from Bohola. Staunton's mother was a musician who could not read music, but could master almost any tune by ear on the accordion or fiddle and had played in Irish showbands.

She took drama classes with her elocution teacher and starred in school productions of plays, including playing role of Polly Peachum in a school production of The Beggar's Opera. Encouraged by an elocution teacher at her school, Staunton auditioned for drama schools and got into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) at the age of 18. At the school, she trained alongside actors Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Juliet Stevenson.She also auditioned for the Central School of Speech and Drama and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, but was rejected by both schools.

Career

Theatre

Staunton graduated from RADA in 1976, then spent six years in English repertory theatre, including a period at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter, where she had the title role in Shaw's Saint Joan (1979). She then moved on to roles the National Theatre, including Lucy Lockit in The Beggar's Opera (1982), which earned her Olivier Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical and Most Promising Newcomer of the Year in Theatre. She also appeared in two revivals of Guys and Dolls at the National Theatre; the first in 1982 in which she met her husband Jim Carter and the second in 1996 in which she played Miss Adelaide and was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. In 1985, Staunton won her first Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for her work in both The Corn Is Green and at The Old Vic and A Chorus of Disapproval at the National Theatre. She also played Dorothy in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1987 revival of The Wizard of Oz at the Barbican Centre, which earned her another Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Staunton won her first Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for playing the Baker's Wife in the original London production of Into the Woods (1990). In the ensuing twenty years, Staunton mainly had roles in plays, including Sonya in Uncle Vanya (1988), Kath in Entertaining Mr Sloane (2009) and Good People (2014), for which she received Olivier nominations for Best Actress in a Play. She also appeared in two productions at the Almeida Theatre, firstly in the premiere of Frank McGuinness's There Came a Gypsy Riding in 2007 and secondly in a revival of Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance in 2011.

Most recently, Staunton has appeared in two Chichester Festival Theatre productions, taking on the role of Mrs Lovett in a revival of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd between 2011 and 2012, starring opposite Michael Ball, before starring as Rose in a revival of Gypsy between 2014 and 2015. Both productions transferred to London for critically and commercially acclaimed runs. Staunton won her second and third Olivier Awards for Best Actress in a Musical for the two productions in 2013 and 2016 respectively.

Film

Staunton's first big-screen role came in a 1986 film Comrades. She then appeared in the 1992 film Peter's Friends. Other film roles include performances in Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Deadly Advice (1993), Sense and Sensibility (1995) Twelfth Night (1996), Chicken Run (2000), Another Life (2001), Bright Young Things (2003), Nanny McPhee (2005), Freedom Writers (2007) and How About You (2007).

Staunton shared a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Performance by a Cast in 1998 for Shakespeare in Love. In 2004, she received the Best Actress honours at the European Film Awards, the BAFTAs, and the Venice Film Festival for her performance of the title role in Mike Leigh's Vera Drake, which also won Best Picture. For the same role, she received her first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.

Staunton portrayed Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), a performance described as "coming close to stealing the show." She was nominated in the "British Actress in a Supporting Role" category at the London Film Critics Circle Awards. Staunton reprised her role as Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One in 2010.

Recent film roles include the 2008 movie A Bunch of Amateurs, in which she starred alongside Burt Reynolds, Derek Jacobi and Samantha Bond, and the character of Sonia Teichberg in Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock (2009). Staunton provided the voice of the Talking Flowers in Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland (2010), and played one of the lead roles in the ghost film The Awakening in 2011. In 2014, she co-starred in Maleficent as well as the British comedy-drama Pride.

In late 2014, she had a voice role in Paddington, a film based on the Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond. Staunton and her Harry Potter co-star Michael Gambon voiced Paddington's Aunt Lucy and Uncle Pastuzo, respectively.

Television

In 1993, she appeared on television alongside Richard Briers and Adrian Edmondson in If You See God, Tell Him. Staunton also played the wife of Detective Burakov in the 1995 HBO movie, Citizen X, which recounted the pursuit and capture of Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. She has had other television parts in The Singing Detective (1986), Midsomer Murders, and the comedy drama series Is It Legal? (1995-98), as well as A Bit of Fry and Laurie. She was a voice artist on Mole's Christmas (1994). She had a guest role playing Mrs. Mead in Little Britain in 2005, and in 2007 played the free-thinking gossip, Miss Pole, in Cranford, the five-part BBC series based on Mrs Gaskell's novels. In 2011, she played Grace Andrews in the second series of Psychoville. In 2011, she was the Voice of the Interface in the highly acclaimed and nominee for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) episode of Doctor Who - "The Girl Who Waited". In 2012, she portrayed Alma Reville, the wife of Alfred Hitchcock, in the HBO television movie The Girl, which also starred Toby Jones and Sienna Miller. Her performance saw her nominated for a BAFTA Television Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.

Radio

On radio, she has appeared in the title role of detective drama series Julie Enfield Investigates, as the lead, Izzy Comyn, in the comedy Up the Garden Path (which later moved to ITV with Staunton reprising the role), in Diary of a Provincial Lady (from 1999) and Acropolis Now.

She starred opposite Anna Massey in the post-World War II mystery series Daunt and Dervish, and opposite Patrick Barlow in The Patrick and Maureen Maybe Music Experience. She played the role of a schoolboy as the lead character in the five part (15 minutes each): "The Skool Days of Nigel Molesworth" for BBC Radio 4.

Other work

Staunton has narrated The Gruffalo for an unabridged audio book of Julia Donaldson's children's book. In 2014 she collaborated with her husband, Jim Carter, and Show of Hands on Centenary: Words and Music of the Great War, an album of songs and poetry from and inspired by World War One.

Staunton is also a patron for the Milton Rooms, a new arts centre in Malton, North Yorkshire along with Bill Nighy, Jools Holland and Kathy Burke.

Personal life

Staunton met her husband, English actor Jim Carter, in Richard Eyre's landmark early 1980s production of Guys And Dolls at the National Theatre. They have a daughter, Bessie, born in 1993. In 2007, the couple, together with Bessie, appeared in the BBC series Cranford (Carter was Captain Brown and Bessie a maid).

Staunton was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2006 New Year Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours, both for services to drama.

Staunton owns a dog (Molly) who appeared in Gypsy at the Chichester Festival Theatre from 6 October 8 November as "Chowsie" the dog. Staunton played the leading role, "Momma Rose".

Theatre work

Repertory theatre:

• Waiting for Godot (Lucky, 1976), Birmingham Rep
• Hay Fever, Watermill, Newbury
• Grease, York Theatre Royal
• Henry V, Leeds Playhouse
• The Gingerbread Man, Leeds Playhouse

Two seasons at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter:

• Travesties (1978) Northcott Exeter
• A Man for All Seasons (1978) Northcott Exeter
• Elektra (Elektra, 1978) Northcott Exeter
• Dear Daddy (1978) Northcott Exeter
• Cinderella (1978) Northcott Exeter
• 'Tis Pity She's a Whore (1978) Northcott Exeter:
• Macbeth (1978) Northcott Exeter
• Cabaret (1978) Northcott Exeter
• As You Like It (1978) Northcott Exeter
• Saint Joan (Saint Joan, 1979) Northcott Exeter
• The Beggar's Opera (1979) Northcott Exeter
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1979) Northcott Exeter
• Side by Side by Sondheim (1979) Northcott Exeter

Two seasons at the Nottingham Playhouse (1980-81?):

• Pam Gems' Piaf (Piaf) Nottingham Playhouse
• Mack and Mabel (Mabel) Nottingham Playhouse
• Mrs Warren's Profession, Nottingham Playhouse
• A Little Night Music, Nottingham Playhouse

Touring (1981-82?):

• She Stoops to Conquer (Kate Hardcastle) Oxford Stage Company UK tour

Theatre roles in London:

• Guys and Dolls (Mimi, Hotbox Girl, 1982), Royal National Theatre Olivier
• The Beggar's Opera (Lucy Lockit, 1982), Royal National Theatre Cottesloe
• Schweyk in the Second World War (Anna, 1982) National Olivier
• Guys and Dolls (Miss Adelaide, 1983) National Olivier
• A Mad World, My Masters (Janet Cloughton, 1984) Theatre Royal Stratford East
• Us Good Girls (Paulette, 1984) Soho Poly
• The Corn Is Green (Bessie Watty, 1985), Old Vic - Olivier Award
• A Chorus of Disapproval (Hannah Llewellyn, 1985) National Olivier - Olivier Award
• The Fair Maid of the West (Bess Bridges, 1987) RSC Mermaid Theatre
• They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (Gloria Beatty, 1987) RSC Mermaid
• The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy, 1987) RSC Barbican Theatre
• Uncle Vanya (Sonya, 1988) Vaudeville Theatre
• The Lady and the Clarinet (Luba, 1989) The King's Head Theatre, Islington
• Into the Woods (Baker's Wife, 1990) Phoenix Theatre - Olivier Award
• Rona Munro's Bold Girls (Cassie, 1991) Hampstead Theatre
• Tony Kushner's Slavs! (Bonfila, 1994) Hampstead Theatre
• Habeas Corpus (play) (Mrs Swabb, 1996) Donmar Warehouse
• Guys and Dolls (Miss Adelaide, 1996) National Olivier - Olivier Nomination
• Divas at the Donmar
• Yasmina Reza's Life X Three (Ines, 2000) National Cottesloe, then transferring to the Old Vic (2001)
• Michael Hastings' Calico (Nora Barnacle, 2004) Duke of York's Theatre
• Frank McGuinness's There Came a Gypsy Riding (Margaret, 2007) Almeida
• Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr Sloane (Kath, 2009) Trafalgar Studios
• Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance (Claire, 2011) Almeida Theatre
• Sweeney Todd (Mrs Lovett, 2011), Chichester Festival Theatre
• Sweeney Todd (Mrs Lovett, 2012), Adelphi Theatre - Olivier Award
• Circle Mirror Transformation (Marty, 2013), Royal Court Theatre
• Good People (Margie, 2014), Hampstead Theatre and Noël Coward Theatre - Olivier Nomination
• Gypsy (Rose, 2014), Chichester Festival Theatre
• Gypsy (Rose, 2015), Savoy Theatre - Olivier Award

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	Comrades	Betsy Loveless
1989	A Sleeping Life	Polly Flinders
1990	Yellowbacks	Cheryl Newman
1990	They Never Slept	The Producer
1992	Peter's Friends	Mary Charleston
1993	Much Ado About Nothing	Margaret
1993	Deadly Advice	Beth Greenwood
1994	Mole's Christmas	Village Mother (voice)	Short film
1995	A Bit of Fry And Laurie	Herself
1995	Sense and Sensibility	Charlotte Jennings Palmer	Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
1996	Twelfth Night: Or What You Will	Maria
1996	The Snow Queen's Revenge	(voice)
1997	Remember Me?	Lorna
1997	The Ugly Duckling	Scruffy
1998	Shakespeare in Love	Nurse	Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2000	Chicken Run	Bunty (voice)
2000	Rat	Conchita
2000	Jack and the Beanstalk	Dilly (voice)
2000	Victoria Wood With All The Trimmings	Mrs. Cottisloe
2001	Another Life	Ethel Graydon
2001	Crush	Janine
2002	Ready	Naomi
2003	The Virgin of Liverpool	Sylvia, Conlon
2003	Bright Young Things	Lady Brown
2003	I'll Be There	Dr. Bridget
2004	Vera Drake	Vera Drake	BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role British Independent Film Award for Best Actress Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress European Film Award for Best Actress Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress Iowa Film Critics Award for Best Actress London Film Critics Circle Award for Actress of the Year Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Online Award for Best Actress San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Venice Film Festival Volpi Cup for Best Actress Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actress Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated—Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated—Empire Award for Best British Actress Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Nominated—Southeastern Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress Nominated—Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
2005	Nanny McPhee	Mrs. Blatherwick
2005	A Midsummer Night's Dream	Polly
2006	My Family And Other Animals	Mother	Nominated—International Emmy Award for Best Actress
2006	Shadow Man	Ambassador Cochran
2007	Freedom Writers	Margaret Campbell
2007	Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix	Dolores Jane Umbridge	Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for British Supporting Actress of the Year Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress
2007	How About You	Hazel Nightingale
2008	Three and Out	Rosemary Cassidy
2008	A Bunch of Amateurs	Mary
2009	Taking Woodstock	Sonia Teichberg
2009	Blackball	Bridget
2010	White Other	Lynne McDermott
2010	Alice in Wonderland	Tall Flower Faces (voice)
2010	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1	Dolores Jane Umbridge
2010	Another Year	Janet	Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
2011	The Awakening	Maud Hill
2011	Arthur Christmas	Margaret Claus (voice)
2012	The Pirates! Band of Misfits	Queen Victoria	Nominated—Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production
2014	Maleficent	Knotgrass
2014	Pride	Hefina Headon	BIFA Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2014	Paddington	Aunt Lucy (voice)
2014	That Day We Sang	Enid	Television film

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	The Singing Detective	Staff Nurse White	5 episodes
1986	Ladies in Charge	Edith	Episode: "Double Act"
1988	Thompson	Various roles	6 episodes
1990-1993	Up the Garden Path	Izzy	18 episodes
1990	Screenplay	Stephanie	Episode: "The Englishman's Wife"
1991	Screenplay	Jane Hartman	Episode: "Antonia and Jane"
1992	A Masculine Ending	Bridget Bennet	Television film
1993	Don't Leave Me This Way	Bridget Bennet	Television film
1993	If You See God, Tell Him	Muriel Spry	4 episodes
1994	Frank Stubbs Promotes	Susan	Episode: "Charity"
1994	Woodcock	Edna	Television film
1995-1998	Is It Legal?	Stella Phelps	21 episodes
1995	Citizen X	Mrs Burakova	Television film
1995	Look at the State We're In!	Councillor Johnson	Television film
1995	The Adventures of Mole	(voice)	Television film
1996	Tales From The Crypt	Sarah	Episode: "About Face"
1998-2000	The Canterbury Tales	The Prioress	2 episodes
1999	David Copperfield	Mrs. Micawber	Television film
1999	Midsomer Murders	Christine Cooper	Episode: "Dead Man's Eleven"
2002	Murder	DCI Billie Dory	Television film
2003	Cambridge Spies	The Queen	2 episodes
2003	Strange	Reverend Mary Truegood	Episode: "Incubus"
2003	Let's Write A Story	Mrs. Twit	Television film
2005	Fingersmith	Mrs Sucksby	3 episodes
2005	Little Britain	Mrs. Mead	6 episodes
2006	Dog Town	Gwen Gregson	Episode: "1.4"
2006	The Wind in the Willows	Barge Lady	Television film
2007	Cranford	Miss Octavia Pole	5 episodes Nominated—BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress
2008	Big & Small	Ruby/Twiba	14 episodes
2008	Clay	Mary Doonan	Television film
2009	Return to Cranford	Miss Octavia Pole	2 episodes
2010-2011	Psychoville	Grace Andrews	7 episodes
2011	Doctor Who	The Interface (voice)	Episode: "The Girl Who Waited"
2012	The Girl	Alma Hitchcock	Television film Nominated—BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actress Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie

Discography

• 2012 Sweeney Todd Revival Cast Recording as Mrs. Lovett
• 2015 Gypsy - 2015 London Cast Recording as Momma Rose

[ Source: Wikipedia ]