Maureen Lipman

Maureen Lipman – Life, Career, and Memorable Thoughts

Dame Maureen Lipman (born May 10, 1946) is an English actress, comedian, writer, and columnist whose work spans stage, screen, and media. Explore her journey, roles, influence, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Dame Maureen Diane Lipman (born 10 May 1946) is an accomplished English actress, comedian, writer, and columnist. She has appeared across theatre, television, and film, and is also known for her columns and comedic voice. Over her long career she has earned acclaim and honors, while also engaging publicly on cultural and political topics.

Early Life and Family

Maureen Lipman was born in Kingston upon Hull, in Yorkshire, England, to Maurice Julius Lipman and Zelma Pearlman. Her father was a tailor, and her mother, Zelma, exposed young Maureen to performance: she used to take her to the pantomime and encourage her to act.

Growing up in a Jewish family, Lipman felt a strong identity shaped by her heritage. As a child, she attended Newland School for Girls in Hull. She also performed in school productions, impersonations, and early acting efforts.

Youth and Education

After secondary school, Lipman pursued formal training in the dramatic arts. She studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).

Her early stage debut came via local theatre (e.g. The Knack at the Watford Palace Theatre) before she joined prominent acting companies. She became part of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre Company around 1971–1973, and also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company during their Stratford season in 1973.

Career and Achievements

Theatre & Stage Work

Lipman has maintained a strong presence on stage throughout her career. Her theatre roles include comedic, dramatic, and musical performances. She has starred in West End productions and regional tours.

Notable roles include playing Florence Foster Jenkins (in Glorious!) in London’s West End, and appearances in When We Are Married, Old Money, Harvey, Lettice and Lovage, and one-woman shows.

Film

Lipman made her early film appearance in Up the Junction (1968). She earned a BAFTA nomination for her supporting performance as Trish in Educating Rita (1983). She has also appeared in The Wildcats of St Trinian’s, Carry On Columbus, Solomon & Gaenor, and The Pianist.

Television

Lipman’s TV career is extensive and varied. Her early roles included The Inquisitors, The Lovers, Doctor at Large, and other British comedy/ensemble shows. She gained greater profile in Agony (1979–1981), in which she played an agony aunt with personal complications.

She also appeared in dramas like Smiley’s People (1982) and has been in Eskimo Day, Ladies of Letters, and more.

Since 2018, she has appeared on the long-running ITV soap Coronation Street as (Evelyn Plummer).

Writing, Columns & Other Work

Lipman is also a prolific writer and columnist. She has authored books such as How Was It For You?, Something to Fall Back On, You Can Read Me Like a Book, I Must Collect Myself, among others.

She has written columns for The Guardian, The Oldie, and other outlets. She has also contributed to publications, combining her wit, social commentary, and personal reflections.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 1968: Film debut in Up the Junction.

• 1971–1973: Membership in Olivier’s National Theatre Company.

• 1983: BAFTA nomination for Educating Rita.

• 1987: Begins famous BT ad campaign as “Beatrice Bellman” (“Beattie”) which gained public recognition.

• 2018: Joins Coronation Street as Evelyn Plummer.

• 2020 / 2021: Honored with a Damehood (DBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for contributions to charity, arts, and entertainment.

Legacy and Influence

Maureen Lipman’s legacy blends performance, wit, and social engagement. She has been one of the voices in British culture that bridges entertainment and commentary. Her decades of work across stage, screen, and print have made her a familiar and respected figure.

Her Beattie/BT adverts left a cultural imprint—her catchphrase “’Ave you got an ‘ology?” became widely recognized and often used or referenced. She has also used her public platform to voice opinions on politics, culture, Jewish identity, and arts policy.

Her status as a Dame (DBE) reflects recognition of her contributions beyond acting—into arts, charity, and public life.

Personality and Talents

• Versatility: She moves adeptly between comedy and drama, stage and screen.

• Wit & voice: Her writing and columns show a sharp, humorous voice, often laced with social insight and personal reflection.

• Resilience: Sustaining a multi-decade career in entertainment while adapting to changing media landscapes.

• Public engagement: Not just a performer but a commentator—she engages publicly on social, political, and cultural debates.

• Anchored in identity: Her Jewish heritage and family background remain part of her personal and public statements.

Famous Quotes

Here are some memorable quotes attributed to Maureen Lipman:

• “The history of the world is smattered with peoples being removed from the land of their birth. None of them ever got their country back.”

• “I do have opinions. Fortunately, I neither Twitter nor Facebook. My daughter forbids me to go on social media.”

• “You can do 20-odd West End plays and not be invited to the Evening Standard Awards.”

• “I’ve discovered over the years that if my hair is all right, then generally speaking, so am I.”

• “The standards women set for themselves these days are incredibly high … whatever we do, we can never make the perfect soufflé – and be up in the bedroom in the black lacy underwear at the right time … or, if we are, the plumber’s bound to be in there.”

• “Chutzpah is best defined as a small boy peeing through someone’s letter box, then ringing the doorbell to ask how far it went.”

These reflect her humor, self-awareness, and provocative style.

Lessons from Maureen Lipman

1. Authenticity matters. Lipman’s long career shows that staying true to one’s voice—onstage and off—builds deeper connection and respect.

2. Adapt and diversify. She did not limit herself to acting; she became a writer, columnist, public commentator.

3. Use your platform. She blends artistry with civic voice, showing how performers can influence cultural and social discourse.

4. Humor as leverage. Her wit allows her to address serious or sensitive topics with momentary levity that softens barriers to conversation.

5. Identity is heritage and capital. Her Jewish background and upbringing inform her perspective and give her moral grounding in public life.

Conclusion

Dame Maureen Lipman has carved out a unique place in British arts and culture—as an actor, writer, comedian, and public thinker. From her early days in Hull, encouraged by her mother, to her tenure on stage, screen, and in print, she has proven durable, versatile, and compelling.

Her voice—combining humor, intelligence, memory, and moral reflection—makes her more than a performer; she is a cultural interlocutor. Her legacy is not only the roles she has played, but the ideas she has voiced and the connections she has made between entertainment and social meaning.