Julie Walters

Julie Walters (born Julia Mary Walters, 22.02.1950)
Julie Walters is a English actress best known internationally for playing Molly Weasley in the 'Harry Potter' film series.

Julie Walters: Childhood
Julie Walters was born in Smethwick, Staffordshire. Her parents were Mary Bridget, a postal clerk, and Thomas Walters, a builder.
She attended a convent school before going to Holly Lodge Grammar School for Girls. She was asked to leave Grammar School in lower sixth form for her poor behaviour.
She worked in insurance at the age of 15 before beginning nurse training at 18. She later left nursing to study English and Drama at Manchester Polytechnic which led to her joining the Everyman Theatre Company in Liverpool.

Julie Walters: Acting career
Julie Walters began her career partnering with comedienne Victoria Wood with whom she starred on 1982 TV series 'Wood and Walters' and appeared in the follow-up 'Victoria Wood As Seen On TV'.
In 1983, she made her breakthrough performance in the film adaptation of 'Educating Rita' opposite Michael Caine which earned her a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.
In 1989, she played the wife of Phil Collins' character in 'Buster'.
1991 saw her opposite Liza Minnelli in 'Stepping Out' and in 1998 she appeared in the repeatedly televised pantomime of 'Jack and the Beanstalk' with Neil Morrissey, Adrian Edmondson, Paul Merton, Denise van Outen and Julian Clary.
1998 was also the year she began appearing in Victoria Wood's comedy show 'Dinnerladies' in which she played Petula opposite Shobna Gulati, Anne Reid and Celia Imrie.
In 1999, her services to acting landed her with an OBE before it was raised to CBE in 2008. 2001 saw her land a Laurence Olivier Award for Arthur Miller's 'All My Sons' and she won a BAFTA award and an Oscar nomination for portraying the ballet teacher in 'Billy Elliot' opposite Jamie Bell.
2001 also saw her portray Molly Weasley in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', reprising the role in the seven subsequent sequels alongside Rupert Grint, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.
In 2003, she appeared alongside Helen Mirren and Ciaran Hinds in the Golden Globe nominated 'Calendar Girls'.
In 2005, she played Lady Marie Stubbs in ITV1 movie 'Ahead of the Class'.
The following year, she starred with her 'Harry Potter' co-star Rupert Grint in 'Driving Lessons' alongside Tamsin Egerton, and appeared with Billie Piper and Matt Smith in the TV adaptation of 'The Ruby in the Smoke'.
In 2008, she was in 'Mamma Mia!' with Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried and Colin Firth. She also played Mary Whitehouse in the BBC movie 'Filth: The Mary Whitehouse Story' which also starred Hugh Bonneville.
In 2009 she received a star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars.

Julie Walters: Other career ventures
Julie Walters Published her first novel 'Maggie's Tree' in 2006.
She has appeared in several television adverts including for Asda during Christmas 2007, Nintendo DS Brain Training with Patrick Stewart, for a Public Information Film about smoke alarms and for LV Insurance.

Julie Walters: Personal life
Julie Walters married Grant Roffey in 1997 after an 11 year relationship. They have a daughter called Maisie Mae.
She currently lives on an organic farm in West Sussex.