Imelda Staunton: ‘Umbridge’s giggle needed to be short and sharp. So I just did a boom, boom’

Imelda Staunton Reflects on Career Highlights, From Umbridge to the Garden

Wanderstayfinder.com – Acclaimed British actress Imelda Staunton has long been celebrated for her versatility across stage, screen, and voice work. In a recent conversation, the performer opened up about everything from her iconic portrayal of Dolores Umbridge to her passion for gardening and working alongside beloved family members.

Gardening Through Climate Challenges

When asked about her relationship with horticulture, Staunton confirmed her dedication to tending her garden. She shared that her current favorite bloom is the Munstead Wood rose, prized for its rich raspberry hue and remarkable fragrance. However, she expressed concern about the future of this variety amid shifting weather patterns.

It’s a rose we might be in danger of losing because of climate change. Roses need water, so I think we’re going to have to change our planting.

During recent heatwaves, Staunton noted that her garden has taken on an almost African appearance. She and her household have adapted by following hosepipe restrictions and investing considerable physical effort in manual watering. She also voiced frustration that such a small island nation does not utilize desalination more extensively for agricultural and domestic purposes.

School Days and Early Performances

Staunton attended La Sainte Union Catholic School in Highgate, north London, where she developed her vocal talents. While she was not the student who sang Wouldn’t It Be Loverly as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, she did participate in a memorable performance of Blue Suede Shoes alongside friend Angela Robinson, accompanying herself on guitar and recorder. The duo won their school’s music festival, earning recognition rather than material prizes.

Family and Animal Co-Stars

When asked which collaborator proved easiest to work with—her husband Jim Carter, her daughter Bessie, or her dog Molly—Staunton chose the canine without hesitation. The reason was practical: she could carry Molly on stage, whereas neither her husband nor her five-foot-nine-inch daughter would be so easily maneuvered. Molly appeared in Gypsy at Chichester Festival theatre in 2014 and required no formal audition, having connections within the production.

The dog, obviously. Because she was the easiest to carry. I carried the dog on stage. Try doing that with Jim Carter – not going to happen.

Voice Acting and Discipline

Staunton’s extensive voice work for children’s books, including titles by Julia Donaldson such as Zog and The Smeds and the Smoos, benefited from her early radio experience. She began recording for Radio 4 in the 1980s, where the microphone essentially became another character in the performance. This format taught her to maintain vocal containment and precision—skills she found equally valuable in animation work.

I love doing that because you can’t escape. You’ve only got the voice. It’s got to be so contained and the discipline comes from that, I think.

Damehood and the Umbridge Giggle

Staunton was made a dame in 2024, an honor she admitted she was still processing. She also discussed the creation of Umbridge’s distinctive laugh for the Harry Potter films. Rather than drawing from real-life educators, she deliberately crafted a short, sharp sound consisting of two notes she described as “boom, boom.” She wanted the giggle to be hard and high-pitched without lingering too long.

Remembering Pete Postlethwaite

Staunton fondly recalled working with the late Pete Postlethwaite in the 2000 comedy Rat. Despite the film’s premise, she noted they never actually saw him transform into a rat on camera; instead, they filmed him returning to human form. Postlethwaite contributed only three days to the production but made a memorable impression by emerging from a refrigerator completely naked for a scene. Staunton had previously collaborated with him in 1986 at the Royal Shakespeare Company in The Fair Maid of the West alongside Sean Bean and Simon Russell Beale.

Pete Postlethwaite was a genius. End of. Timing, heart and soul.

Reflecting on stage work, Staunton observed that silence often proves more challenging than extended monologues, particularly when an actor must resist the urge to overthink upcoming lines. Her career continues to demonstrate the depth of talent that has made her one of Britain’s most respected performers across multiple mediums.