The Wonderful Ms Walters

Dame Julie could have been a teacher if her mum had her way. Instead she's dazzled in roles on stage, screen and in real life

-  CLAIRE SAUL

Starting Out

Focussing on the reliability of certain professions for a secure future, Julie Walters' mother directed her to a nursing or teaching career. But thankfully Julie decided to ditch her mum's advice early on, leaving her nursing training to study drama in Manchester and eventually working at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre Company, alongside actors such as Bill Nighy and Jonathan Pryce and writers such as Alan Bleasdale and Willy Russell. Julie had already made several appearances on television when she filmed Bleasdale's 1982 TV drama Boys From The Blackstuff, but it was her lead performance the following year in Russell's hit film Educating Rita which brought international acclaim, plus a Golden Globe, BAFTA and an Oscar nomination, too.

Get Better Soon!

Severe back pain meant that Julie had to pull out of filming the Channel 4 drama Truelove a few months ago, a role which would have marked her return to television after a good while. Even though we have been able to enjoy her narration of different shows over the last few years, including last year's celebration of the late queen, her last television appearance was presenting 2017's Coastal Railways With Julie Walters.