Julie Walters has enjoyed a career that has spanned over years and seen her find success on both the big and small screen: resulting in her becoming one of the most loved British actresses.
She is back on the big screen this week with comedy One Chance, a film about Paul Potts, which sees her team up with James Corden, Colm Meaney and director David Frankel.
Walters has given some terrific performances over the years, and to celebrate the release of One Chance we look at some of her best.
- Educating Rita
Walters had enjoyed an acting career that had spanned almost ten years before she landed the role of Rita in Educating Rita: which was based on the stage play by Willy Russell.
The movie follows Rita, a working class British hairdresser who decides to seek an education at Open University. There she meets Professor Frank Bryant whose passion for literature is reignited by Rita.
Educating Rita is a fantastic study of two lost souls who find a common ground in each other - despite them being from two completely different worlds. Walters and Michael Caine make an excellent acting team and together they deliver a pair of performances that are unforgettable.
Rita’s journey is a terrific ride and this was the movie that brought Walters to international prominence: Walters picked up Best Actress awards at the Baftas and Golden Globes and picked up an Oscar nomination for her performance.
- Billy Elliot
In 2000, Walters returned to the big screen as she teamed up with Jamie Bell for British drama Billy Elliot. Set in the northeast of England in the mid-eighties, the movie followed an eleven-year-old boy who takes up ballet.
Walters took on the role of his teacher Sandra Wilkinson: a woman who encouraged and supported him - despite Billy not having the support of his father and older brother.
Walters delivers a truly colourful and spirited performance as Sandra Wilkinson as she helps brings this terrific film to life. Billy Elliot is a movie that will make you laugh as much as it will make you cry and it British drama at its very best.
Walters picked up another Bafta for her performance, and was also nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. This remains one of the best British movies of all times and is one of Walters’ most memorable film characters.
- Calendar Girls
Walters was part of a fantastic ensemble cast in 2003 as Calendar Girls hit the big screen: Helen Mirren, Penelope Wilton, Linda Bassett and Celia Imrie were all also on board the comedy.
Directed by Nigel Cole, the movie followed a group of Yorkshire WI women who featured in a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research - the film was based on a true story.
Walters took on the role of Annie Clark, who had lost her husband to Leukaemia and in whose memory the calendar was produced. This was an emotional performance from Walters as a woman struggling with her own grief, while trying to help those who had gone through the same thing.
This really is a charming film from start to finish that is packed with fascinating relationships, humour and heartbreak.
- Harry Potter Franchise
In 2001, Walters stepped into the big budget blockbuster as she took on the role of Mrs Weasley in the Harry Potter franchise. She made her first appearance in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and went to star in six more of the films.
The Harry Potter films are the biggest movies of Walters’ career as they enjoyed huge box office success: it is the biggest grossing franchise of all time.
Walters may not have been the star of the film, yet she delivered a fantastically caring performance as the loveable Mrs Weasley: she really was perfectly cast in the role.
- Mo
Not all of Walters’ best performances have come on the big screen as she has also delivered some fantastic performances in TV projects.
Mo was one of those TV projects as Walters took on the role of Mo Mowlam, the controversial and yet popular Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Directed by Philip Martin, the movie looked at the life and career of Mowlam, as well as her well-publicised battle with cancer.
Once again, Walters delivered a totally devastating performance as a woman who was strong in the face of personal problems - it really is a heart-breaking and movie TV film.
Walters would triumph at the Baftas once more as she picked up another Best Actress gong for her central performance.
Other Walters’ performances to watch out for include Mamma Mia, Driving Lessons as well as TV work such as a Short Stay In Switzerland and Dinner Ladies.
One Chance is released 25th October.
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