Julie Walters: A Life in Pictures

Julie Walters CBE, talented and versatile British actress who collaborated with Victoria Wood, shared how she still finds one of her films “difficult to watch.”

Walters has starred in some of the best-loved British TV and film including Talking Heads, Dinnerladies and Victoria Wood: As Seen On TV. Along the way she’s scooped seven BAFTAs – her first for debut film Educating Rita.

She told a packed audience at the special Life in Television event that she didn’t rate her first film performance, despite it helping make her a star.

“The first big transition for me was Educating Rita,” she said.

“[Director] Lewis Gilbert came along and said, ‘I’ve seen the play and I’d really like you to play the part but you’re not a star, so that could be a problem.’”

“I thought I was terrible in it and I still find it quite difficult to watch…it was a big learning curve that film.”

• Read a transcript of the 3 December, 2014 event

Walters kick-started her career at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre Company in the 1970s, working alongside future stars Pete Postlethwaite, Bill Nighy and Willy Russell.

“The Everyman was a real community,” she said.

“It felt ground-breaking. Theatre was where I wanted to be: I wanted to be on a stage. I never thought about television at that time.”

Walters was eventually tempted to TV in 1982 with writer and comedian Victoria Wood. In 1982 they became the first female comedy duo to have their own television series with sketch show Wood and Walters. Their fruitful partnership went on to score success with the likes of Pat and Margaret and the BAFTA-winning Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV.

This led to the creation of some of British comedy’s most colourful characters including the iconic Mrs Overall in soap spoof Acorn Antiques and eccentric Petula Gordino in Dinnerladies.

On the big screen Walters was BAFTA-nominated for her performances in Billy Elliot and Stepping Out, the second with Liza Minelli. Walters joked how she “nearly kicked herself to death” trying to learn the dance numbers.

More recently Walters has delighted family audiences in films like Brave. She’s also found new recognition as caring Mrs Weasley in the hit Harry Potter series. In 2008 she starred in ABBA musical Mamma Mia! – the same year as being awarded a CBE for services to drama.

So is she now a national treasure?

“Oh yes,” she told the BAFTA audience.

“I’d rather be viewed like that than people thinking I was an old bag.”

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