At the age of 15, Julie Walters left school to pursue a career in insurance. Her interest in the arts, though, pushed her down a different route. At the age of 18, she decided to train as a student nurse at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
During her 18-month stay, she rotated across wards such as ophthalmic, accident, and cardiac care. Despite her nursing background, she opted to pursue her acting ambition and enrolled in the Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre (now Manchester School of Theatre).
She joined the Everyman Theatre Company in Liverpool in the mid-1970s, where she worked alongside prominent performers and writers such as Bill Nighy, Pete Postlethwaite, Jonathan Pryce, Willy Russell, and Alan Bleasdale.
Julie Walters has had an illustrious career in cinema, television, and theater. For her performances, she has garnered various honors and nominations. She received a Laurence Olivier Award in 2001 for her performance in Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons.”
For her supporting role as the ballet teacher in “Billy Elliot” (2000), she received her second Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA. In 2002, she received a BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress for her work in “My Beautiful Son.”
What comedian worked with Julie Walters?
Walters is an award-winning actress and comedian who has been dubbed a “national treasure.” As students, she formed acquainted with Victoria Wood, which led to their comedy collaboration.
Has Julie Walters retired?
Julie announced her intention to retire from acting in October 2020, claiming that the stress caused her cancer. She described how learning she was ill was a ‘great relief’ because it meant she could quit working.