Dame Joanna Lumley Embraces Living Day to Day as She Reflects on Aging

Dame Joanna Lumley, the beloved actress known for her iconic role in ‘Absolutely Fabulous,’ has opened up about her perspective on aging, sharing that she has “started to live day to day” as she contemplates the limited time ahead. At 79, Lumley expressed a renewed determination to make the most of every moment on this beautiful planet.

Speaking on BBC Radio 2, Lumley reflected, “As you near the top of the hill, you suddenly think, ‘Gosh, there’s not all that much time left.’ My time must be coming quite soon, and I don’t want to have wasted a minute of being on this beautiful planet.” Her outlook has shifted from youthful panic to a calmer acceptance focused on appreciating the present.

Despite acknowledging the challenges of aging, Joanna insists that “growing old is good.” Honored with the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship award in 2017, she shared, “With age, you work out what matters. I always knew that good stuff would come along when I was older. When I was 18, I longed to be 30. When I was 30, I longed to be 50. We mustn’t be led into thinking getting old is bad. Growing old is good.”

Lumley’s distinguished career spans decades, including film, television, and modeling. Recently celebrating her 79th birthday, she has no plans to retire. At the SANDS International Film Festival in Scotland, she recalled her early ambitions and the limited opportunities women faced: “When I was 16 and told the careers officer at my convent school that I wanted to go into acting, he told me that the only jobs open to me in film would be as a continuity or make-up girl.”

Highlighting progress within the entertainment industry, Lumley noted, “In the past, women like me would have been sidelined at 38—but now there are lead parts for people in their 50s and big parts for those in their 70s.” Her reflections underscore a broader shift that celebrates talent and experience at every age, inspiring audiences and peers alike.