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Julie Walters (actor)
She was born as Julia Mary Walters in Smethwick, daughter of Mary Bridget (nee O'Brien), a postal clerk, and Thomas Walters, a builder and decorator. She was educated at a convent school and then later at Holly Lodge Grammar School for Girls on Holly Lane in Smethwick, although she was asked to leave at the end of her lower sixth due to behavioural issues.In an interview with Alison Oddey, Her first job was in insurance at the age of 15 and then at 18 she trained as a nurse at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. She left nursing and went to Machester Polytechnic to study English and Drama leading to a career in the performing arts.
She first received notice as the occasional partner of Victoria Wood. The pair receiving widespread acclaim for their tv series Wood And Walters in 1982. The BAFTA award winning follow-up, Victoria Wood As Seen On TV featured one of her best-known roles, Mrs. Overall in Acorn Antiques. She also appeared as Petula Gordino in Wood's sitcom Dinnerladies. She broke into films with her Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning performance as Rita in Educating Rita (1983).
She has won numerous other acting awards, and was appointed as an OBE in 1999 and raised to CBE in 2008 for her services to drama. She received her second Oscar nomination and won another BAFTA for her supporting role as the ballet teacher in Billy Elliot (2000).
She is also well known to fans of the Harry Potter films as she plays Molly Weasley (mother of Ron).
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- with Michael Caine in "Educating Rita"
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