Imelda Staunton

Staunton was born in Archway, North London, the only child of Bridie (née McNicholas), a hairdresser, and Joseph Staunton, a labourer. They lived over Staunton's mother's salon. Her parents were immigrants from County Mayo, Ireland; her father from Ballyvary and her mother from Bohola. Her mother, a musician, had played in Irish showbands; while she could not read music, she could play almost any tune by ear on the accordion or fiddle. When Staunton was in her teens, her parents separated, both later meeting new partners. As a pupil at La Sainte Union Catholic School, Staunton took drama classes with her elocution teacher and had starring roles in school plays, including that of Polly Peachum in The Beggar's Opera. Encouraged by her teacher, she auditioned for drama schools: while the Central School of Speech and Drama and Guildhall School of Music and Drama did not extend offers to her, she was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) at age 18.