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Dame Maureen Diane Turner (; born 10 May 1946) is an English actress, comedian and columnist. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and her stage work has included appearances with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. She was made a dame in the 2020 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to charity, entertainment and the arts.
Lipman has been nominated for seven Olivier Awards across categories commending acting in plays, musicals and comedy, winning in 1984 for See How They Run. On film, Lipman was BAFTA nominated for Educating Rita (1983) and has also appeared in The Wildcats of St Trinian's (1980), Carry On Columbus (1992), Solomon & Gaenor (1999) and The Pianist (2002). On television, Lipman had prominent roles in Agony (1979–1981), Smiley's People (1982), Eskimo Day (1996) and Ladies of Letters (2009–2010). Since 2018, she has starred in Coronation Street as Evelyn Plummer.
Lipman then attended Newland School for Girls in Hull, and in her youth became interested in performing. She performed in school productions, attended an early Beatles concert, and watched Elizabeth Taylor's Butterfield 8 fifteen times. Her first performances at home included impersonations of Alma Cogan; "a nice Jewish girl, she was big in our house", and she was encouraged into an acting career by her mother, who used to take her to the pantomime and push her onto the stage.
Lipman trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Lipman was a member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company at the Old Vic from 1971 to 1973 and of the Royal Shakespeare Company for its 1973 Stratford season.
Lipman has continued to work in the theatre for more than fifty years, playing, among other roles, Aunt Eller in the National Theatre's Oklahoma!.
From November 2005 to April 2006 she played Florence Foster Jenkins in the Olivier Award-nominated show Glorious! at the Duchess Theatre in London's West End.
From October 2010 to February 2011, Lipman starred in a production of J.B. Priestley's When We Are Married at the Garrick Theatre. In 2012, she directed and appeared in a production of Barefoot in the Park on tour and starred in Old Money at Hampstead Theatre. In 2013, she starred in Daytona at the Park Theatre followed by a tour, and in 2014 a season at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. In 2015, she starred with James Dreyfus in Mary Chase's play Harvey at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, on tour and at the Theatre Royal Haymarket. In 2016, she starred in My Mother Said I Never Should at the St. James Theatre. In 2017, she starred with Felicity Kendal in a revival of Lettice and Lovage at the Menier Chocolate Factory. In 2018, she starred with Martin Shaw in The Best Man at the Playhouse Theatre, as well as returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time in fifty years with a one-woman show of jokes and storytelling called Up For It.
She performed the Joyce Grenfell monologue The Committee for the first time on The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog, which was recorded 1982, and broadcast by Channel 4 in 1983.
She played the lead role in the television series All at No 20 (1986–87) and took on a range of diverse characters when starring in the series of comedy plays About Face (1989–91). She is known for playing Joyce Grenfell in the biographical show Re: Joyce!, which she co-wrote with James Roose-Evans.
In 1996 she appeared in the BBC comedy drama Eskimo Day, written by husband Jack Rosenthal and directed by Piers Haggard, about the trials and tribulations of three young would-be students as they arrive with their families at Queens' College, Cambridge, on interview day. There was a sequel, Cold Enough for Snow, in 1997.
She appeared as snooty landlady Lillian Spencer in Coronation Street for six episodes in 2002. The character was employed by Fred Elliott (John Savident) to run The Rovers Return Inn. She re-joined the cast of Coronation Street in August 2018, this time playing Evelyn Plummer, the long-lost grandmother of Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall).
In 2003 she appeared in Jonathan Creek in the episode "The Tailor's Dummy". Lipman played Maggie Wych in the children's television show The Fugitives, broadcast in 2005. She has narrated two television series on the subject of design, one for UKTV about Art Deco and one about 20th-century design for ITV/Sky Travel.
She performed as a villain, The Wire, in the 2006 series of Doctor Who in the episode entitled "The Idiot's Lantern".
She has also appeared on Just a Minute, The News Quiz, That Reminds Me, This Week and Have I Got News for You. In 2007, Lipman appeared as a celebrity contestant on Comic Relief Does The Apprentice to raise money for Comic Relief. The show saw her helping to run a funfair. Later in 2007, she made a guest appearance in Casualty; this was followed by an appearance in a December 2011 episode of the Casualty spin-off Holby City, playing a different character.
In May 2008, she appeared in the BBC documentary series Comedy Map of Britain. On Sunday 11 January 2009, BBC Four was devoted to a "Maureen Lipman Night". On 5 February 2009, she appeared in the third series of teen drama Skins, in the episode entitled "Thomas" as Pandora Moon's Aunt Elizabeth.
She played Irene Spencer in the ITV3 comedy Ladies of Letters, in which she starred alongside Anne Reid. The show's first series started in 2009, and it returned for a second series in 2010.
In the 1999 film Solomon & Gaenor, the character she played spoke Yiddish throughout.
She also wrote a monthly column for Good Housekeeping magazine for more than ten years, which formed the basis for several autobiographical books, including How Was It For You?, Something To Fall Back On, Thank You For Having Me, You Can Read Me Like A Book and Lip Reading. Lipman has also contributed a weekly column in The Guardian in the newspaper's G2 section.
She writes for The Oldie and is on the editorial advisory board of Jewish Renaissance magazine.
She was married to dramatist Jack Rosenthal from 1974 until his death in 2004, and had a number of roles in his works. The couple had two children, writers Amy Rosenthal and Adam Rosenthal.
Following Jack's death, she moved from Muswell Hill, north London, to Paddington. She also has a small apartment in Manchester, where she stays when filming Coronation Street.
Retired computer expert Guido Castro, an Egyptian Jew, was her partner from 2008 until his death in January 2021.
In August 2024, Lipman became engaged to David Turner, co-founder of gym chain LA Fitness (now owned by PureGym). The couple were married at his home in September 2025.
In The Jewish Chronicle, Lipman argued that media reporting of the conflict was "heavily distorted":
In May 2015, Lipman joined pro-Israel groups, including the Zionist Federation, in a protest against the Palestinian play The Siege in its London premiere at Battersea Arts Centre. In a 2016 interview, she ridiculed the Palestinians' "so-called" right to return, arguing that nobody "in history has ever had the right to return," and dismissed any United Nations' resolutions censuring Israel for its no-return policy, saying "This is all voted by people who don't allow women to drive and make them cover their heads with black bags."
In an interview to The Guardian, on 18 August 2020, Lipman inaccurately asserted that Hezbollah had claimed responsibility for the 2020 Beirut explosion, stating: "I'm very grateful that Hezbollah said they did it". She also stated she would not be prepared to work alongside pro-Palestinian actors, citing Maxine Peake and Miriam Margolyes as examples.
In 2024, during the Gaza war, Lipman said that protests against Israel are "close to fascism". She stated: "These bleeding, heartless liberalism care so deeply for the Palestinians? That they espouse their cause at the expense of every other oppressed people of the world ... Shame. Shame. Shame on every one of you."
In November 2023, Lipman joined a march against antisemitism in London alongside prominent celebrities including Vanessa Feltz, Robert Rinder, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Elliot Levey, Rachel Riley, Eddie Marsan, and David Baddiel.
Television
Lipman's first television role was in The Inquisitors opposite Diana Dors; other early appearances included the sitcoms The Lovers, and Doctor at Large, and a role in The Evacuees (1975). Lipman first gained prominence on television in the situation comedy Agony (1979–81), in which she played an agony aunt with a troubled private life. In her role as Stella Craven in Smiley's People (1982), Lipman appeared with Alec Guinness.
Film
Lipman made an early film appearance in Up the Junction (1968). She played the title character's mother in Roman Polanski's film The Pianist (2002).
Advertising
In 1987, she was cast as the character "Beatrice Bellman" ("Beatie/BT"), a Jewish grandmother in a series of television commercials for British Telecom, a role which became sufficiently well known to launch a book You Got An Ology in 1989, and which was still referred to 25 years later by politicians.
Books, newspapers and magazines
After her husband died in May 2004 she completed his autobiography By Jack Rosenthal, and played herself in her daughter's four-part adaptation of the book, Jack Rosenthal's Last Act, on BBC Radio Four in July 2006. Her anthology, The Gibbon's In Decline But The Horse Is Stable, is a book of animal poems that is illustrated by established cartoonists, including Posy Simmonds and Gerald Scarfe, to raise money for Myeloma UK, to combat the cancer to which she lost her husband.
Personal life
Lipman is a practising Jew, and a member of the West London Synagogue.
Political views
Burma
Lipman supports the work of the Burma Campaign UK, Europe's largest NGO regarding Myanmar (Burma). She supports the process of democratisation in the country, and the work of Prospect Burma, a non-political charity that offers Burmese students the opportunity to study at university overseas. Lipman spoke on behalf of Prospect Burma in the BBC Radio 4 Appeal, broadcast in September 2009.
Pro-Israel activism
Lipman supported Israel's cause during the 2006 Israel–Hezbollah conflict. On 13 July 2006, in a debate on the BBC's This Week, she argued that "human life is not cheap to the Israelis, and human life on the other side is quite cheap actually, because they strap bombs to people and send them to blow themselves up." These comments were condemned by columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown who said "Brutally straight, she sees no equivalence between the lives of the two tribes". Lipman responded to Alibhai-Brown's accusation of racism by arguing that the columnist had deliberately misrepresented Lipman's comments as generalisations about Muslims rather than specific comments about terrorists. Australian scholar and journalist John Pilger characterised Lipman as a "promoter of selective good causes" who is "allowed to say, without serious challenge" that human life on the other side is cheap.
Antisemitism
In a January 2015 interview on LBC Radio, Lipman said she was considering emigrating to the United States or Israel in response to what she perceived as increasing antisemitism in the United Kingdom.
The Labour Party
At the 2005 general election, Lipman supported the Labour Party, but declared in October 2014 that she could no longer do so due to leader Ed Miliband's support for a parliamentary motion in favour of recognising the State of Palestine. In April 2018, Lipman criticised Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for the way he had ostensibly handled antisemitism in the Labour Party and the party's reputed failure to address the issue. Lipman attended a protest outside Labour's head office and said she was there "as a disenfranchised socialist". She identified with a placard reading "Corbyn made me a Tory". In a 2020 interview, she described herself as a "Labour luvvie" under the tenure of Tony Blair, as opposed to a "party member". She also said she would have to be "stark raving mad to support Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson".
Filmography
Film
1968 Up the Junction Sylvie 1969 Sarah AKA, School for Unclaimed Girls 1971 Gumshoe Naomi 1980 Katy Higgs 1983 Educating Rita Trish 1985 Water Margaret Thatcher National Lampoon's European Vacation Lady in the bed 1992 Carry On Columbus Countess Esmeralda 1999 Solomon & Gaenor Rezl Captain Jack Barbara Bostock 2002 Edwarda Szpilman 2003 SuperTex Dora Breslauer 2004 Lighthouse Hill Audrey Davidson 2008 Charlie Caught in the Act Judith Herbst 2012 Run for Your Wife Exercising woman Cameo Metamorphosis Mrs. Samsa 2020 The Schnoz Norma & Golda Short film 2024 Our Neighbour's Ass Ida Schumacher 2025 The Dog That Couldn't Bark Rebecca Every Day's A Bonus Jean
Television
1968 The Inquisitors Magda Barcelona Episode: "The Peeling of Sweet Pea" 1969–1970, 1981 ITV Playhouse Liz; Little Satin Bottom/The Mayoress; Zoya Krein Episodes: "In a Cottage Hospital", "The People's Jack", "Last Night Another Dissident..." 1969–1970, 1973 ITV Sunday Night Theatre Joanna Dibble; Barbara; Cathleen Episodes: "It's Called the Sugar Plum", "The Gingham Dog", "Long Day's Journey Into Night" 1970 Codename Lisa Episode: "A Walk with the Lions" Don't Ask Us – We're New Here Various TV series Sandra Appleton Episode: "Brainwashing" 1971 Doctor at Large Maxine Episode: "Saturday Matinee" 1973 Thriller Liz Morris Episode: "File It Under Fear" Casanova '73 Gloria Episode #1.3 1973–1975 Crown Court Sarah Lewis Recurring role 1974 Armchair Cinema Annie Episode: "Regan" You'll Never Walk Alone Marjorie Pouncey TV short 1975 Sarah Miller TV film Three Comedies of Marriage Rachel Episode: "Bobby Bluesocks" 1975–1976 Couples Marian Steinberg Main role 1976 Mrs. Smedley Episode: "Selected Target" Rogue Male Freda TV film 1978 Alison Holmes TV series Play for Today Sharon Benson Episode: "Dinner at the Sporting Club" 1979 Mrs. Paige Episode #1.2 Brenda Weller TV film 1979–1981 Agony Jane Lucas Main role 1981 Margaret Thatcher (voice) Episode: "Away from It All" Dangerous Davies Ena Lind TV film 1982 Jackanory Witch Episode: "The Witching Hour" Smiley's People Stella Craven TV mini-series Objects of Affection Val Episode: "Rolling Home" Outside Edge Maggie TV film 1983 The Green Tie on the Little Yellow Dog Joyce Grenfell 1984 See How They Run Miss Skillon 1985 On Your Way, Riley Kitty McShane Love's Labour's Lost The Princess of France Ruth Episode #1.5 Theatre Night Marge Episode: "Absent Friends" Absurd Person Singular Jane Hopcroft TV film 1986 Screenplay Julie Episode: "Shift Work" 1986–1987 All at No 20 Sheila Haddon TV series 1987 Miss Minchin TV mini-series First Sight Tamara Episode: "Exclusive Yarns" 1989–1991 About Face Various Main role 1991 Re:Joyce! – A Celebration of the Work of Joyce Grenfell Joyce Grenfell TV film 1992 Bookmark Enid Blyton Episode: "Sunny Stories" 1995 Call up the Stars Joyce Grenfell TV film Agony Again Jane Lucas Main role 1996 Eskimo Day Shani Whittle TV film 1997 Cold Enough for Snow Shani Whittle 1999 Oklahoma! Aunt Eller 2002 George Eliot: A Scandalous Life Narrator Coronation Street Lillian Spencer Guest role, 6 episodes 2003 Jonathan Creek Louise Bergman Episode: "The Tailor's Dummy" Winter Solstice Marcia TV film 2004 Where the Heart Is Stella Sinclair Episode: "Body & Soul" 2005 Maggie Wynch Recurring role 2006 Doctor Who The Wire Episode: "The Idiot's Lantern" 2007 Sensitive Skin Sue Shortstop Episodes: "Three Lost Loves", "Here I Am" Casualty Hannah 'Hayley' Liddell Episode: "Behind Closed Doors" 2008 He Kills Coppers Lily Porter TV film 2009 Skins Aunt Elizabeth Episode: "Thomas" Minder Anita Richardson Episode: "The Art of the Matter" 2009–2010 Ladies of Letters Irene Spencer Main role 2011 Tinga Tinga Tales Hummingbird (voice) Episode: "Why Hummingbird Hums" Holby City Bonnie Walters Episode: "Half Empty" 2012 Midsomer Murders Mags Dormer Episode: "Written in the Stars" 2015 Alicia Episode: "Comic Relief Special 2015" Bull Beverley Bull Main role Maggie Higgins Episode #3.6 2016–2019 Plebs Landlady Recurring role (series 3–5) 2016 The Crystal Maze Mumsey Episode: "SU2C Special" 2018– Coronation Street Evelyn Plummer Main cast 2021 Rose Rose TV film 2026 Father Brown Patricia Parkinson Episode: "The Palace by the Sea"
Publications
Awards and nominations
+
!Year
!Awards
!Category
!Nominated work
!Result
!Ref. 1979 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Comedy Performance Outside Edge 1981 British Academy Television Awards Best Light Entertainment Performance Agony 1983 Best Actress Outside Edge / Rolling Home Laurence Olivier Awards Actress of the Year in a New Play Messiah 1984 British Academy Film Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Educating Rita Laurence Olivier Awards Best Comedy Performance See How They Run 1986 Best Actress in a Musical Wonderful Town 1998 Best Family Show Maureen Lipman, Live and Kicking 2003 Polish Film Award Best Supporting Actress The Pianist 2004 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Actress in a Musical Thoroughly Modern Millie 2010 Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical A Little Night Music 2019 Inside Soap Awards Best Newcomer Coronation Street 2021 Funniest Performance 2022 Best Comic Performance 2023 Best Comic Performance Best Partnership The British Soap Awards Best Comedy Performance Best On-Screen Partnership 2024 Inside Soap Awards Best Comic Performance TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress 2025 International Festival of Cinema Best Actress - Short Every Day's A Bonus
Honours
Lipman was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1999 New Year Honours and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to charity, entertainment and the arts. Accompanied by her son, Adam Rosenthal, she received her award from Charles, Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on 28 October 2021.
Legacy
Her papers, and those of her husband Jack Rosenthal, are held at the University of Sheffield.
External links
Categories: 1946 Births, Living People, 20th-century British Non-fiction Writers, 20th-century English Women Writers, 20th-century English Writers, 21st-century British Non-fiction Writers, 21st-century English Women Writers, Actresses Awarded Damehoods, Actresses From Kingston Upon Hull, Actors From The London Borough Of Haringey, Alumni Of The London Academy Of Music And Dramatic Art, British Zionists, Comedians From Kingston Upon Hull, Comedians From The London Borough Of Haringey, Dames Commander Of The Order Of The British Empire, English Film Actresses, Jewish English Writers, English Radio Actresses, English Soap Opera Actresses, English Stage Actresses, English Television Actresses, English Women Comedians, The Guardian Journalists, Jewish English Actresses, Jewish English Comedians, Jewish Women Comedians, Jewish British Women Writers, Labour Party People, Laurence Olivier Award Winners, People Associated With The University Of Sheffield, People From Muswell Hill, Royal Shakespeare Company Members, Writers From The London Borough Of Haringey, People From Paddington, Jewish Women Non-fiction Writers, 21st-century English Writers
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