Celia Imrie

Celia Imrie is an Olivier award winning and Screen Actors Guild Nominated actress. She was seen to star in THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL in her role as the frisky, singleton grandmother 'Madge Hardcastle'. The cast includes Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy with the addition of Richard Gere and Tamsin Grieg to the ensemble. On its opening weekend the film topped the UK, New Zealand and Australian box office and opened in the US in the third spot despite limited screenings.

In 2015, Imrie also made her debut as a novelist with 'Not Quite Nice', a story of eccentric expatriates who find new friends, new beginnings and new dramas on the French Riviera.  'Not Quite Nice', was Bloomsbury's top selling title, a Sunday Times Best-seller, reached number 5 on the iBooks paid for chart and was number 6 on the Amazon bestseller list. Bloomsbury  published the witty and enchanting sequel novel, 'Nice Work (If You Can Get It),' which explores the lives of an enterprising band of retirees who show it is never too late to start afresh, as they open a restaurant in the French Riviera.

Imrie has starred in a leading role in YEAR BY THE SEA, adapted from Joan Anderson's best-selling memoirs, and has also completed filming for Gore Verbinkski' supernatural horror film A CURE FOR WELLNESS alongside Dane DeHaan and Mia Goth. In 2001, Imrie played Una Alconbury in BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY, the Oscar nominated film starring Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth. She then went on to star in CALENDAR GIRLS in 2003, opposite Julie Walters and Dame Helen Mirren, before returning for the Bridget Jones sequel THE EDGE OF REASON in 2004. Imrie also featured in WIMBLEDON and as Mrs Quickly opposite Colin Firth in NANNY MCPHEE, both from Universal Pictures, as well as playing Matron in ST TRINIANS and in the sequel, ST TRINIANS 2: THE LEGEND OF FRITTON'S GOLD.

Imrie's further film credits include Homily Clock, opposite Jim Broadbent in the 1997 award winning family film THE BORROWERS as well as featuring in the 1999 blockbuster STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE. She was cast as Mrs Bennett in A CHRISTMAS CAROL before going on to feature in the Oscar nominated FRANKENSTEIN with a cast including Robert De Niro, Helena Bonham Carter and John Cleese. Last year Imrie co-starred in the comedy film LOVE PUNCH, from Entertainment One, opposite Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson and Timothy Spall and also appeared in Lionsgate's comedy WHAT WE DID ON OUR HOLIDAY with Rosamund Pike and David Tennant. She also played the headmistress in NATIVITY 3: DUDE WHERE'S MY DONKEY, the third film in the hugely popular film series. Imrie will also soon appear in Tom Butterworth's family film MOLLY MOON: THE INCREDIBLE HYPNOTIST.

Her career started in the early 1970s with her first notable role of Marianne Bellshade in the BBC television series 'Bergerac'. Following on from this, Imrie played her famous role of Miss Babs in the parodic soap opera 'Acorn Antiques', also for the BBC. Imrie has gone on to star in multiple high profile British TV series including the original 'Ab Fab' television series. Earlier this year she guest starred in the second episode of the BBC's 'Blandings', playing Jennifer Saunder's sister. For television, Imrie was recently seen as Lady Daphne Goodwin in the BBC drama 'Our Zoo', based on the inspiring real story of the eccentric Mottershead family who established Chester Zoo in the 1930s.

In 2011, Imrie was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in the acclaimed Tony and Olivier Award winning comedy 'Noises Off' at The Old Vic Theatre. She also starred in 'Hayfever' at The Rose Theatre and in 'Habeus Corpus' at The Donmar Warehouse, directed by Sam Mendes. For 'Acorn Antiques: The Musical', directed by Trevor Nunn, Celia won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2005. She was also awarded The Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Actress in 'The Sea' at The National in 1991, with her role opposite Dame Judi Dench, also directed by Sam Mendes. She began her career as a chorus girl in pantomime and then went on to perform in 'Henry V', 'Macbeth', 'As You Like It' and 'The Merchant of Venice'.

At The National Theatre she performed in 'Yerma' (1987) and 'The School for Scandal' (1998). Stewart Permutt's one-woman play 'Unsuspecting Susan' (2003) premiered at The King's Head Theatre and in 2005 she took the play on to critical acclaim in New York at 59 East 59th Street Theatre. Last summer, Imrie was seen on stage in her acclaimed Cabaret 'Laughing Matters' at the St James Studio, following its success at The Crazy Coqs. She also performed as a guest artist in 'Forgotten Voices' at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, a play by Malcolm McKay based on the best-selling book 'Forgotten Voices of the Great War' by Max Arthur.

Fox Searchlight Pictures US