Dame Julie Walters, DBE—often simply known as Julie Walters—was a powerhouse of British acting whose remarkable career spanned decades and earned her acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. A celebrated Oscar nominee and multiple BAFTA winner, she brought depth, humor, and authenticity to every role she took on. Her standout performances in films like Educating Rita (1983), Billy Elliot (2000), and later entries in major franchises such as Harry Potter, Mamma Mia!, Paddington, and Mary Poppins Returns (2018) cemented her status as one of the most beloved and prolific actresses of her generation.
Born Julia Mary Walters on February 22, 1950, in Edgbaston, a quiet suburb of Birmingham, England, she was one of five children raised by English and Irish parents. By her own admission, young Julie wasn’t particularly focused on academics—she was even expelled from Holly Lodge Grammar School for Girls due to misbehavior—and at just 15 years old, she began working at an insurance company. But dreams of the stage never left her. She briefly trained as a nurse at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham before deciding to chase her passion for acting full-time. That journey led her to study English and drama at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she laid the foundation for what would become an extraordinary career.
Her early stage work with the Everyman Theatre Company introduced her to fellow rising stars like Jonathan Pryce, Bill Nighy, and Pete Postlethwaite, with whom she shared a romantic relationship during the 1970s. It was around this time that Julie Walters began making her mark in improvisational comedy and cabaret, eventually transitioning into television guest roles. Then came her breakout: playing the spirited, self-improving hairdresser Rita in Willy Russell’s play Educating Rita (1980). Critics raved about Julie Walters’ performance, and it wasn’t long before she teamed up with comedian and writer Victoria Wood, whom she had met during a 1978 sketch revue titled In at the Death. Their creative partnership became iconic, producing memorable work including the TV adaptation of Wood’s Talent (ITV, 1979) and two sketch comedy series—Wood and Walters (ITV, 1981–82) and Victoria Wood As Seen on TV (BBC Two, 1985–87).
One of Julie Walters’ most cherished comic creations emerged from the latter show: Mrs. Overall, the endearing tea lady in the parody soap opera Acorn Antiques. The character gained a cult following and eventually inspired a successful musical adaptation in 2005, directed by Trevor Nunn, which won critical acclaim.
In 1983, Julie Walters stepped into international spotlight with the film version of Educating Rita, directed by Lewis Gilbert and co-starring Michael Caine as the disillusioned professor transformed by her character’s zest for life. For this role, Julie Walters received an Academy Award nomination, along with a Golden Globe and her first BAFTA win for Best Actress in a Leading Role—the first of seven BAFTAs throughout her career. From there, she seamlessly moved between comedy and drama, building a diverse body of work that showcased her incredible range.
She played a naïve waitress moonlighting as a madam in Terry Jones’ Personal Services (1987), portrayed playwright Joe Orton’s mother in Stephen Frears’ Prick Up Your Ears (1987), and delivered a powerful performance as a mother caught in the crossfire of Anglo-Irish tensions in Titanic Town (1998). The year before that film’s release, she was honored as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)—a sign of things to come in terms of recognition.
On television, Julie Walters reunited with Victoria Wood for the special Julie Walters and Friends (ITV, 1991) and the acclaimed sitcom Dinnerladies (BBC One, 1998–2000), set in a Manchester factory canteen. Her warmth and comedic timing shone through, endearing her to audiences across the UK.
Then came Billy Elliot (2000), Stephen Daldry’s heartfelt coming-of-age story, in which Julie Walters played the tough yet nurturing dance teacher who helps a young boy pursue ballet. The role earned her a second Oscar and Golden Globe nomination, as well as another BAFTA win. The film’s success opened doors to high-profile projects, including her now-iconic portrayal of Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter film series—though she missed one installment, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), due to health reasons.
Julie Walters continued to shine in both film and television. She starred in Calendar Girls (2003), playing one of a group of middle-aged women who pose nude for a charity calendar—a role that resonated with audiences worldwide. On the small screen, she won BAFTA TV Awards for her performances in Strange Relations (ITV, 2001) opposite Paul Reiser, as a grieving mother in Murder (2002), as a modern take on Chaucer’s Wife of Bath in BBC One’s Canterbury Tales (2003), and as Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam in Mo (Channel 4, 2010).
Between these roles, Julie Walters lent her talents to period dramas and family favorites alike: portraying Jane Austen’s mother in Becoming Jane (2007), bringing joy as Rosie in Mamma Mia! (2008), charming audiences as Mrs. Bird in Paddington (2014) and its sequel, and delivering a poignant performance as a feisty boardinghouse owner in Brooklyn (2015), which earned her a record-setting 16th BAFTA nomination.
Even as she entered her sixth decade, Julie Walters remained incredibly active. She published her autobiography, That’s Another Story, in 2008, offering fans a candid look into her life and career. In 2016, she paid touching tribute to her longtime friend Victoria Wood after her passing, creating the documentary series Our Friend Victoria (BBC, 2017). That same year, she was named Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire—an honor reflecting her immense contribution to the arts.
In the final stretch of her career, Dame Julie Walters delighted audiences once more with supporting roles in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! and Mary Poppins Returns, both released in 2018. These performances reminded the world why Julie Walters had remained such a treasured figure in entertainment—her presence, whether dramatic or comedic, always felt genuine, warm, and unforgettable.
When it comes to Julie Walters’s film career, one standout performance definitely shines through—her role in Paddington 2 (2017), which happens to be her highest rated movie. It’s no surprise that fans and critics alike have praised her work in this heartwarming family favorite. On the other hand, Julie Walters also appeared in The Queen’s Corgi (2019), a film that didn’t quite hit the same high notes and ended up being her lowest rated movie to date. While Julie Walters has consistently delivered memorable performances over the years, these two films really highlight the contrast in her more recent roles. Julie Walters clearly brings charm and depth wherever she goes, but some projects, like Paddington 2, just allow her talent to truly shine.