Best known for her role as Sister Monica Joan in the hit BBC series Call the Midwife, Judy Parfitt has had an illustrious career spanning several decades.
The 89-year-old actress, who has been a regular on Call the Midwife since 2012, has an impressive portfolio that includes stage, film, and TV roles. Her journey began in 1953 when she graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, sharing the stage with legendary actors like Laurence Olivier.
Over the years, she has received numerous BAFTA nominations for her outstanding performances in popular dramas such as The Jewel in the Crown and Pride and Prejudice.
Despite not winning the top prize for her supporting role in 2003’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Judy continued to enthrall audiences with her performances in beloved shows like Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders, Jonathan Creek, and Vera.
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In a touching tribute to her late husband, Judy shared memories of her marriage with actor Tony Steedman, famed for his roles in Coronation Street and Citizen Smith.
Speaking to the Express, she reminisced about their beginnings, she said: “Tony had the leading role and he was always trying to make me laugh as I was a terrible giggler. The first time I saw him he was wearing this absolutely hideous bright red jumper, so he definitely made an impression.
“He had people in stitches wherever we went and he was always playing the fool. Whereas I tended to worry, Tony didn’t and he never took himself or anything too seriously.”
The couple, who married in 1963, welcomed their son David in 1964. Tragically, Tony passed away in 2001, leaving Judy on her own since then, reports the Mirror.
During a 2014 interview with Mail Online, Judy reflected on their traditional home life amidst their hectic professional lives. At that time, she said: “While both of us were very busy, at home it was a very traditional marriage. I enjoyed cooking and ironing his shirts for him.
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“He loved to be my sous chef, chopping the vegetables while I made dinner. He enjoyed accompanying me to the supermarket, pushing my trolley – but it wasn’t to help me so much as he loved the opportunity to chat and joke with the other shoppers.”
Judy has openly discussed her husband’s battle with dementia, sharing her insights with the Loose Women panel about why it’s a crucial subject to discuss. Reflecting on her journey, she said: “I always said with my husband, I lost my husband that I loved, but I gained a child that I love because they become your children, and they’re there physically, but they’re not with you.”
Even after her husband’s passing, Judy has continued engaging audiences through her acting career, especially as Sister Monica Joan on Call the Midwife. Born in 1935 in Sheffield, Judy talked about her wartime childhood experiences with Saga magazine, mentioning how she learned resilience during such dire times.
She recounted to Saga magazine: “Growing up in the war, I learned how people just got on with [things] despite food rationing, bombs dropping, not knowing if they’d be alive the next day.”
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Sharing a vivid memory from her past, Judy recalled a moment with her father amidst the chaos of war when she was just nine years old. Speaking of her father, she described: “[held] me in his arms as Sheffield lit up around us because it was being blitzed – yet people still went to work the next day!”
Call the Midwife is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
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