Lesley Joseph
{{Short description|English actress and broadcaster (born 1945)}}
{{for|the American tennis player|Lesley Joseph (tennis)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Lesley Joseph
| image = 200px
| imagesize = 150px
| caption = Joseph in Cardiff, Wales, May 2011
| birth_name = Lesley Diana Joseph
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|10|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Finsbury Park, London, England
| occupation = Broadcaster, actress
| height = {{convert|5|ft|2|in|m|sigfig=3}}
| television = Birds of a Feather
| spouse =
| children = 2
| website =
| othername =
| yearsactive = 1964–present
| domesticpartner Eugene Levy =
}}
Lesley Diana Joseph (born 14 October 1945) is an English actress and broadcaster, whose career on stage and screen spans over fifty years. She is best known for playing Dorien Green in the television sitcom Birds of a Feather from 1989 to 1998 and again from 2014 to 2020. Other television credits include Absurd Person Singular (1985) and Night and Day (2001–2003).
Her stage roles include UK touring productions of Thoroughly Modern Millie (2005), Calendar Girls (2011) and Annie (2015). In 2018, she was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, for the original West End production of Young Frankenstein.
Early life
Joseph was born on 14 October 1945,{{cite book|title=The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History|author1=Rubinstein, W.D.|author2=Jolles, M.|author3=Rubinstein, H.L.|date=2011|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=9781403939104|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJc8afOZV0QC|page=491|access-date=26 February 2015}} in Finsbury Park, Haringey, London, England.{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/content/articles/2008/04/14/lesley_joseph_feature.shtml |title=A 'homecoming' for Lesley Joseph |date=22 April 2008 |website=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=12 April 2022}} She grew up in Kingsthorpe, Northampton and attended Northampton School for Girls.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northamptonshire/content/articles/2008/04/14/lesley_joseph_feature.shtml|title=A 'homecoming' for Lesley Joseph|last=BBC|accessdate=7 January 2017}}
Career
=Stage=
In May 1973, Joseph appeared in Godspell at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatrememorabilia.co.uk/brighton-theatre-royal-godspell-1972-jess-conrad-p-2131?cPath=5|title = Brighton Theatre Royal - Godspell - 1972 - Jess Conrad 1970s Theatre Show Programme 72 [T02111] |website=Theatrememorabilia.co.uk}}
Joseph appeared in Cinderella at Theatre Royal, Plymouth in 2008 and the Orchard Theatre in Dartford in 2009 and starred as Myra Wilson in the UK Tour of Hot Flush!. In 2014, Hot Flush! embarked on its third UK tour.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
From 4 December 2010 to 22 January 2011, she appeared at The Grand Opera House, Belfast as the Wicked Queen in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
In mid 2011, Joseph appeared as Chris in the stage show Calendar Girls, based on the film of the same name.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
Between 2014 and 2015, she performed at the Theatre Royal Nottingham as the Wicked Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}
In 2015, she appeared as Miss Hannigan in the stage production of Annie at certain venues, sharing the role with Jodie Prenger and Elaine C Smith she was cast as the fairy godmother in Cinderella at the cliffs pavilion (Southend on sea). In 2016/17, she was part of the cast in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth. Joseph then portrayed Frau Blucher in the West End production of Young Frankenstein.{{cite web|author=Cole, Emily |url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/188344/hadley-fraser-summer-strallen-more-to-star-in-londons-young-frankenstein/ |title=Hadley Fraser, Summer Strallen & More to Star in London's Young Frankenstein |publisher=Broadway.com |date=21 April 2017 |accessdate=11 October 2017}}
Between 2022 and 2024, Joseph starred in Sister Act: The Musical, playing the roles of Sister Mary Lazarus and Mother Superior.{{cite web |title=Lesley Joseph - Sister Act: The Musical |url=https://www.sisteractthemusical.co.uk/uk-tour/bio-uk/lesley-joseph.php?iframe=true&width=645&height=90%25 |website=Sister Act: The Musical |access-date=21 June 2023}}
=''Birds of a Feather''=
{{main|Birds of a Feather (TV series)}}
From 1989 to 1998, Joseph played Dorien Green in the BBC One sitcom Birds of a Feather, alongside Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson.{{cite web |title=Birds of a Feather |url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/october/birds-of-a-feather/ |website=BBC |access-date=21 June 2023}}
In December 2011, it was confirmed that Joseph would reunite with fellow Birds of a Feather cast members, Quirke and Robson, for a theatre adaptation of the series. The trio toured the United Kingdom from May to July 2012.{{cite web |title='Birds of A Feather' reunion tour dates announced |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a356654/birds-of-a-feather-reunion-tour-dates-announced/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=21 June 2023 |date=16 December 2011}} Following the success of the stage adaption, a new series of Birds of a Feather was commissioned after the rights had been acquired by ITV. The new series began airing on 2 January 2014 for eight episodes. To promote the return of the series, Joseph, Quirke and Robson appeared as guest panellists on Loose Women on 16 January 2014.{{cite web |title=Birds of a Feather cast takeover Loose Women and reveal they felt "like they've never been away" |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/birds-feather-cast-takeover-loose-3029342 |website=Daily Mirror |access-date=21 June 2023 |date=16 January 2014}}
In March 2015, it was confirmed that a second series of Birds of a Feather had been commissioned by ITV which began airing in December. Following this, a third series was commissioned and aired in early 2016,{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a634764/birds-of-a-feather-renewed-for-12th-series-by-itv.html#~p6JzUcgaezVaUG|title=Birds of a Feather renewed for series 12|website=Digital Spy|date=12 March 2015|accessdate=7 January 2017}} Joseph appeared in three more Christmas specials airing in 2016, 2017 and 2020 respectively, before the show's cancellation was announced in May 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a36440917/birds-of-a-feather-itv-cancelled/|title=ITV announces Birds of a Feather has been cancelled following Pauline Quirke's exit|first=Paul|last=Seddon|website=Digital Spy|accessdate=21 June 2023|date=16 May 2021}}
=Further TV work=
File:Lesley Joseph Breath of Fresh Air.JPG in June 2008.]]
Joseph starred in the ITV soap Night and Day from 2001 to 2003 playing the show's resident bitch, Rachel Culgrin. In 2002, Joseph appeared on a special edition of What Not to Wear, where she was given a makeover by Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine. In 2004, she performed in The Vagina Monologues opposite Linda Robson and Mica Paris.{{cite news
| title = The Vagina Monologues – coming soon
| publisher = BBC
| date = 11 August 2004
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2004/08/11/entertainment_event_previews_2004_08_vagina_monologues_event_feature.shtml
| accessdate = 3 May 2009 }}
Since 2009, she has been a regular newspaper reviewer on This Morning. She appeared in the 2014 series Secrets of the Asylum, a two-part series for ITV. In 2015, Joseph took part in ITV's celebrity sheep herding series Flockstars, beginning on 30 July.{{CN|date=January 2024}}
In 2014, Joseph appeared with Forrest Dunbar on ITV2's Freshers: A Year On. She made frequent appearances on Channel 5's Big Brother's Bit on the Side.
On 22 August 2016, it was announced that Joseph would take part in the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.{{cite web |title=Who is Lesley Joseph? Strictly Come Dancing 2016 contestant guide |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/talent-shows/who-is-lesley-joseph-strictly-come-dancing-2016-contestant-guide/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=21 June 2023 |date=6 November 2016}} She was partnered with Anton du Beke. In their first week, the couple scored 23 points for their waltz to "What'll I Do", in week two, 26 for their cha-cha-cha to "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps", in week three, 27 for their quickstep for "A Couple of Swells" from Easter Parade and in week four, 31 for their Charleston to "Won't You Charleston with Me?" from The Boy Friend. The couple left the series in week five, after scoring 24 for their tango to "Whatever Lola Wants".{{cite web |title=Lesley Joseph becomes fifth celebrity to be voted off Strictly Come Dancing |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2016-10-23/lesley-joseph-becomes-fifth-celebrity-to-be-voted-off-strictly-come-dancing |website=ITV |access-date=21 June 2023 |date=23 October 2016}}
She was one of the four competitors who appeared in the special Christmas edition of The Great British Sewing Bee that was transmitted on New Year's Eve 2020 on BBC 1. Her fellow competitors in the programme were Sabrina Grant, Sally Phillips and The Vivienne.{{cite web |title=The Great British Sewing Bee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qr6s |website=BBC |access-date=21 June 2023}}
In 2022, Joseph won the seventh series of Celebrity Coach Trip alongside her Birds of a Feather co-star Linda Robson.{{Cite web|url=https://www.list.co.uk/article/130469-birds-of-a-feather-stars-back-together-on-celebrity-coach-trip/|title=I'm Birds of a Feather stars back together on Celebrity Coach Trip|date=19 October 2021|website=The List|accessdate=23 December 2021}}
=Radio=
Joseph began presenting a radio show in 2008 on BBC London 94.9 with Christopher Biggins, airing every Sunday between 9{{nbsp}}am to 12{{nbsp}}noon. Biggins left the show after a few months, however Joseph has continued to host. She also stood in for Vanessa Feltz on her weekday morning talk show whilst Feltz was on holiday.{{cite web |title=Lesley Joseph Lesley Joseph BBC London 94.9's version of those glossy supplements in your Sunday newspaper! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/03/03/joseph_biggins_feature.shtml |website=BBC |access-date=21 June 2023}}
Personal life
Joseph is Jewish.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-maureen-lipman--lesley-joseph-1739897.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-maureen-lipman--lesley-joseph-1739897.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=How We Met: Maureen Lipman & Lesley Joseph – Profiles – People |work=The Independent|date=11 July 2009 |accessdate=26 February 2015}} She has two children.{{cite web |last1=Wolfisz |first1=Francine |title='I blessed the Pope - just like any good Jewish girl would do!' |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/lesley-joseph-i-blessed-the-pope-just-like-any-good-jewish-girl-would-do/ |website=Jewish News |access-date=June 2, 2024}}
Joseph's mother, Rebecca Mundy (née Maccoby), was born in May 1912 and died in March 2016, aged 103.{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/i-looked-like-bag-lady-14231214|title=Lesley Joseph on not feeling her age, and being cheeky to the Pope|first=Tricia|last=Martin|date=7 April 2019|work=Daily Mirror}}{{better source needed|reason=tabloid|date=May 2024}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |
| 1969
|The Bastard King |Catherine of Braganza |Supporting role |
| 1974
|Another Mother Makes Five |Gypsy woman |Supporting role |
| 1975
|Cashier |1 episode |
| 1979
|Val |Supporting role |
| 1980
|Maureen |1 episode |
| 1981
|Roots |Melanie Goldblatt |1 episode |
| 1983
|Rose Rosenburg |Recurring role |
| rowspan=2|1985
|Summer Season |Mrs King |Recurring role |
| Absurd Person Singular
|Lottie Potter |TV film |
| 1987
|First Sight |Pippa |Main role |
| 1988
|Lea Girls |Shop assistant |Recurring role |
| 1989
|Rose Farriner's neighbour |Main role |
| 1989–1998, 2014–2020
|Dorien Green |Main role |
| rowspan=2|1992
|Herself |Contestant |
| Celebrity Fifteen to One
|Herself |Contestant |
| 1995
|Rumble |Ma Pecs |Supporting role |
| 1996
|Miss Millington |Main role |
| 1998
|Macbeth |Witch |TV film |
| 2001–2003
|Rachel Culgrin |Regular role |
| 2003
|Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes |Herself |Contestant |
| 2005
|Lost Dogs |Maria-Carmen Todd |Supporting role |
| 2006
|Green Beryl |Supporting role |
| 2006–2009, 2014
|Herself |Guest panellist |
| rowspan=2|2007
|Kings of 70s Romance |Herself |Narrator |
| Ready Steady Cook
|Herself |Contestant |
| rowspan=3|2008
|The Greatest Christmas Comedy |Herself |Interviewee |
| The Slammer
|Erica, the critic |Recurring role |
| Comedy Classics
|Herself |Interviewee |
| 2009
|Receptionist/Mrs Green |Recurring role |
| 2009–2014
|Herself |Newspaper reviewer |
| 2009, 2011
|Herself |Contestant |
| 2009
|Herself |Contestant |
| rowspan=2|2010
|Herself |Participant |
| Celebrity Eggheads
|Herself |Participant |
| 2011
|Wardrobe mistress |1 episode ('My First Brassiere') |
| 2012–2021
|Herself |Regular participant |
| rowspan=5|2014
|Secrets from the Asylum |Herself |Contributor |
| All Star Family Fortunes
|Herself |Participant |
| You Saw Them Here First
|Herself |Contributor |
| Celebrity Antiques Road Trip
|Herself |Contributor |
| Freshers: A Year On
|Herself |Contributor |
| 2014–2016
|Big Brother's Bit on the Side |Herself |Contributor |
| 2014, 2021
|Herself |Contestant |
| rowspan=3|2015
|Herself |Participant |
| Mel and Sue
|Herself |Guest |
| Celebrity Benchmark
|Herself |Participant |
| 2016
|Herself |Participant |
| 2017
|Celebrity 5 Go Motorhoming |Herself |Participant |
| 2019
|Herself |Participant |
| 2022
|Herself |Winner |
Stage
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Location |
|---|
| 1964
| Hermia | Abington Park Museum, Northampton |
| 1968
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Titania |
| 1973
| Godspell | Sonia | Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth |
| 1981
| Piaf |
| 1988
| Exclusive Yarns | Pippa | New Wimbledon Theatre |
| 1991–1992
| Wicked Stepmother |
| 1992–1993
| Cinderella | Wicked Stepmother |
| 1993–1994
| Fairy Godmother |
| 1994–1995
| Dick Whittington | Alice Fitzwarren |
| 1995
| The Miser | Frosine | UK Tour |
| 1995–1996
| Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother | New Victoria, Woking |
| 1996–1997
| Dick Whittington | Alice Fitzwarren |
| 1997–1998
| Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother |
| 1998–1999
| Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother |
| 2000–2001
| Dick Whittington | Fairy Godmother |
| 2002–2003
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2003
| Office Suite | Miss Prothero |
| 2003
| Singular Women | Miss Cohen | Kings Head Theatre |
| 2003–2004
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2004–2005
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2005
| Mrs Meers | UK Tour |
| 2005–2006
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen | Bradford Alhambra |
| 2006
| Various | UK Tour |
| 2006–2007
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen | Wolverhampton Grand |
| 2007–2008
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2008–2009
| Cinderella | Fairy Godmother |
| 2009–2010
| Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | Orchard Theatre, Dartford |
| 2010–2011
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen | Grand Theatre, Belfast |
| 2011
| Calendar Girls | Chris | UK Tour |
| 2011–2012
| Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe |
| 2012
| Dorien Green | UK Tour |
| 2012–2013
| Robinson Crusoe | Enchantress of the Ocean |
| 2013–2014
| Robinson Crusoe | Enchantress of the Ocean |
| 2014
| Hot Flush! | Myra Wilson | UK Tour |
| 2014–2015
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2015
| Annie | Miss Hannigan | UK Tour |
| 2015–2016
| Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | Cliffs Pavilion, Southend |
| 2016–2017
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2017–2018
| Frau Blucher |
| 2018–2019
| Cinderella | Fairy Godmother | Churchill Theatre, Bromley |
| 2019–2020
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2020–2021
| Carabosse |
| 2021–2022
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2022
| Sister Act: The Musical | Sister Mary Lazarus | Palace Theatre, Manchester and Hammersmith Apollo |
| 2022–2023
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen |
| 2022–2023
| Sister Act: The Musical | Mother Superior | UK Tour |
| 2023–2024
| Jack and the Beanstalk | Spirit of the Beans |
| 2024
| Grandma Addams |
| 2024
| Sister Act: The Musical | Sister Mary Lazarus/Mother Superior | Dominion Theatre |
| 2024–2025
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen | Theatre Royal, Plymouth |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name|id=0430639|name=Lesley Joseph}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20210116141932/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1dde501 Lesley Joseph] at the British Film Institute
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Lesley}}
Category:English stage actresses
Category:English television actresses
Category:Jewish English actresses
Category:Actresses from Northampton
Category:Actresses from London
Category:People from Finsbury Park