Shannon Airport staff member Jackie Connolly had another dream day at the office this week as she got to meet one of her movie icons, British actress Joanna Lumley.
Lumley, an OBE, burst onto TV screens in the 1970s as one of the stars of the Avengers and quickly became a household name. Over forty years later and Joanna still had heads turning at Shannon as she awaited her flight to London.
According to Shannon Duty Free staff member Jackie Connolly from Sixmilebridge, in person she was every bit the lady that she comes across as in public. “I’ve had many great days here meeting famous people and I have to say meeting Joanna Lumley is right up there with them, she is a real heroine of mine. I am a real fan ever since I watched her on the New Avengers TV series.
“She’s always had such grace, elegance and yet fun on TV or on the big screen and she was all of that here. She really is such a charming person. Only last week I’d been watching her present a TV documentary and then a few days later for her to be at Shannon Airport in front of me in my place of work was amazing and a dream come true. She was so warm and we had a long chat about her recent documentary series.
Jackie added “The minute I asked for a photo – and I’m never shy about that with stars coming through here she instantly obliged. She always had the x-factor and nothing clearly has changed.”
An outspoken and leading human rights and animal welfare activists, Lumley’s early career saw her go on to star in shows like Sapphire and Steel and she showed her versatility as she became a huge hit as Patsy Stone in the classic comedy Absolutely Fabulous and also had a brief and memorable role in Coronation Street.
The Indian born actress also has an impressive list of big-screen successes to her name, including Maybe Baby and Ella Enchanted with Anne Hathaway. One of her biggest but shortest roles came in 2013 when she starred in the huge box office hit The Wolf of Wall Street.