Here is Imelda Staunton's biography:
Imelda Staunton was born on January 9, 1956, in Archway, London, England. Her parents, Joseph Staunton and Bridie McNicholas, were first-generation Irish immigrants. Staunton received her secondary education at the La Sainte Union Catholic School, a girls' school operated by the Holy Union Sisters. She was trained in drama and elocution and practiced her new skills by starring in school plays. Encouraged by one of her teachers, Staunton applied to several drama schools and was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 1974. She graduated from RADA in 1976.
Staunton began her career in the 1980s, working primarily in English repertory theater. She made her film debut in the historical drama "Comrades" (1986) and went on to appear in a range of films, including "Peter's Friends" (1992),"Much Ado About Nothing" (1993),"Twelfth Night" (1996),"Chicken Run" (2000),"Rat" (2000),"Crush" (2001),"Vera Drake" (2004),"Shadow Man" (2006),"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007),"Taking Woodstock" (2009),"The Awakening" (2011),"Arthur Christmas" (2011),"The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!" (2012),"Pride" (2014),"Maleficent" (2014),"Paddington" (2014),"Finding Your Feet" (2017),"Downton Abbey" (2019),and "Downton Abbey: A New Era" (2022).
Staunton has won numerous awards for her performances, including four Laurence Olivier Awards and a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. She has been nominated for several other awards, including Golden Globe Awards and Academy Awards.
