Purdey from 'New Avengers' Is 77 & Grew Out Her Bob – She Is in 'Absolute Heaven' as Grandma & Married for 36 Years

• Purdey from 'The New Avengers' looks different at 77!
• Joanna Lumley's hairstyle became famous as "the Purdey bob."
• Years after she sent her son to boarding school, she became a happy grandmother.

The British actress Joanna Lumley rose to fame as her on-screen characters from the 1970s and 80s entertained her audience and left them wanting more.

Before Joanna mesmerized the viewers with her performance as Lally Longbridge in the TV series "Mistral's Daughter," she had become famous as Purdey.

Joanna's iconic role in the 1976 series "The New Avengers" became a hit in no time. However, not everyone knows that the actress auditioned for Purdey's role while competing with more than 800 women.

While most young men back then stuck Joanna's poster on their bedroom walls or inside their cupboards, many girls were fascinated by Purdey's haircut. The short hairstyle gained so much popularity in the 1970s that it was officially called the "Purdey bob."

Years before signing her breakthrough role, Joanna gave birth to her only child, Jamie Lumley, in 1967. The "Absolutely Fabulous" actress was only 21 when she became a mother.

Joanna had to raise her son alone because his father, Michael Claydon, had parted ways with her. With time, the single mother developed a close bond with her son.

Jamie was only six when he realized he was meant to be a photographer. Years later, he started studying professional photography at the London College of Printing.

Pursuing his passion for photography, Jamie started capturing photos for a living. His work allows him to travel in the UK, clicking photographs that are exhibited internationally.

Despite having a busy schedule, Jamie still bonds with his mother, who loves him a lot. She likes spending time with him and his children.

Joanna Lumley Is a Grandma & Changed Her 'Purdey Bob'

While discussing her now-married son in an interview, Joanna revealed one regret about his childhood. It happened after she sent him to boarding school.

Being an understanding and loving mother, she promised Jamie she would pick him up from boarding school if he didn't like it there.

Since mobile phones were not common back then, Joanna could only communicate with Jamie through letters. The boy kept writing to his mother, requesting her to pick him up, but she never received his message.

It turned out that the headmaster checked all the letters before they were posted. Joanna never learned about her beloved boy's pleas because the headmaster made him rewrite the letters. While feeling bad about what happened decades ago, Joanna expressed her feelings for Jamie:

"I love my son. He's the pure gold in my life."

Now, Jamie has two daughters who are their grandmother's favorite. In a 2018 interview, Joanna shared how spending time with her granddaughters made her realize something important.

It happened when her 15-year-old granddaughter stayed with her friends at Joanna's place. The grandmother confessed, "It was absolute heaven!"

While she enjoyed having the girls at her place, it made her think about becoming "a little bit more of a granny." The actress thought she could gain weight by eating cake to fit the real-life"grandmother" role.

Despite being a grandmother of two girls, Joanna still looks beautiful as ever. The only thing that has changed about her is her hairstyle. She grew out her "Purdey bob," but her hair length remains above her shoulders.

Joanna Lumley Found Real Love after 30: "There Was Something Different about Him"

At 77, Joanna is married to Stephen Barlow, who she reportedly knew before their first meeting. The pair met at a mutual friend's meeting, unaware that they would spend the rest of their lives with each other.

When 31-year-old Joanna met the conductor, she had no plans of tying the knot. The idea of marriage "didn't cross her mind" until she got to know Barlow. She confessed:

"But there was something different about him; I was drawn to his whole mindset – and his knowledge of music."

Meanwhile, Barlow described the actress as "glamorous and statuesque." The couple tied the knot in 1986 and still share a wholesome bond.

Since Joanna loves to travel, she spends a lot of time away from home and her husband. She talked about her relationship on "The Jonathan Ross Show," explaining that she doesn't prefer talking on the phone while traveling.

"When I'm away, I don't even phone home," the actress confessed. While most youngsters wouldn't relate to Joanna, she prefers communicating through the mail instead of a mobile phone.

The avid traveler claims attending phone calls while traveling can affect one's mood and frame of mind. Calling back home is the least of her worries when traveling.

Please subscribe to AmoMama on Google News!