From Maidenhead To The Royal Throne...

When Geraldine James told her family she wanted to become an actress, it was not exactly greeted with delight. But her career has taken her on a fantastic journey from Berkshire to becoming Queen of England – well, at least in Downton Abbey!

- Bernard Bale

“It’s true, my parents were rather horrified when I said I wanted to be an actress,” Geraldine explained. “I suppose it came as a bit of a shock because it was a well-known fact that most actors and actresses spend much of their time out of work. Also, my father was a heart surgeon, which meant a good and regular income, so my ambition was quite alien to them. My mother was a nurse so she was also always sure of work.

“Words were said and my father basically threw me out, but in fairness, many years later, when I won a BAFTA, my father wrote to me and he very warmly spoke about how he had been wrong and how I had made a success of it. It was a letter I have always cherished. He even sent me £100 to buy a new frock.

“My parents separated when I was 14 so my growing up time was not without its problems. But that is not a reflection on Maidenhead, which was a great town for someone like me – and still is. Working as an actress tends to make you something of a wanderer and you often have to base yourself in places where being available and getting to wherever you are working is more convenient. I never fell out of love with Berkshire though.”

Starting life in Maidenhead may have helped Geraldine to take those first steps on the road to her chosen career.