Saturday Magazine - 31.08.2019

SATURDAY MAGAZINE 5

INTERVIEW

to do scenes with Maggie [Smith] and

Penelope [Wilton]. We all adore Maggie!

‘The whole gang is back and I think the

fans will be very happy. You want to satisfy

them because they’re the ones who made

it what it is.’

Imelda has had a diverse career in theatre,

film and television, but says that of all the

parts she’s played, she’s still most

recognised as the sickly sweet and

thoroughly sadistic Dolores Umbridge, the

Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher

in Harry Potter.

‘You forget that children grow into

adults, though – I have people asking

for my autograph and they’re 35 now!

And I’m like, “What’s wrong with

you?”’ laughs Imelda. ‘Weirdly, I’m

recognised a lot for my theatre stuff,

too. That surprises me. I always think no

one will have seen the shows I’ve been in.’

So what’s next? Will the Olivier Award-

winning actress head back to the stage,

or take on another hard-hitting TV project?

‘I feel like I’ve almost outstayed my

welcome in theatre, it just went on and on

and on,’ reflects Imelda. ‘So it’s quite good

now to just bugger off for a bit and let

someone else have a go. But if I’m going to

do film and telly, I don’t just want to do the

next thing that comes along, I want to wait

for the right roles. I’m trying to be brave.

‘But hopefully we’re in a good climate at

the moment for ladies of my age in television

• ladies who aren’t 20. So we’ll just have to
  wait and see what comes my way.’

Vera Drake

Harry Potter

‘When you’re

in the moment,

nothing matters

but telling that

story. It was

so intense’

Right: As Karen
Edwards in
A Confession.
Left: As Lady
Bagshaw in the
new Downton
Abbey film

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