Julie Walters

British actress and nascent novelist Julie Walters is a recognizable face by virtue of her highly commercial role as Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter series.

Julia Mary Walters, known professionally as Julie Walters, was born February 22, 1950 in Smethwick, Birmingham, West Midlands, England. Her parents were Thomas Walters and Mary Bridget O Brien, a builder and postal clerk respectively. While her original career was at Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a nurse, she was eventually persuaded to pursue her real passion. To that end, she studied both English and drama while attending Manchester Metropolitan University.

Walters began her career as partner to established actress and comedian Victoria Wood. She came out from under that shadow in 1982 with the wildly successful and critically acclaimed television series Boys from the Blackstuff.

Launching her career into high gear, Walters took a part in 1983 for the film Educating Rita with costar Michael Caine. Both Caine and Walters earned Oscar nominations for their roles.

Never hurting for work, Walters appeared in numerous films and television productions thereafter. She gained popularity and acclaim for many of these roles, most notably Stephen Frears’ Prick Up Your Ears with Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, and Vanessa Redgrave.

Although she was a well-known face and name to the British audience, her international acclaim began picking up in the late 90s. From 1998 to 2000, she appeared in the television comedy Dinnerladies, and her breakout role came at the conclusion of this series. In 2000, she was cast with Jamie Bell in the inspirational, heartwarming film Billy Elliot. Walters was once again honored with an Oscar nomination as was the film’s director, Stephen Daldry.

Riding high on this success, Walters next earned her most high profile role to date with J K Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was released 2001, wherein Walters played Molly Weasley, mother to Rupert Grint’s character. The film starred Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Maggie Smith, and others. Walters has reprised her role in almost all of the film’s sequels.

She received notice for her role in My Beautiful Son with Paul Reiser and Olympia Dukakis as well as the comedy Calendar Girls with Helen Mirren.

More recently, she can be seen in the biographical drama Becoming Jane with bright young star Anne Hathaway. The film also features James McAvoy, James Cromwell, and Joe Anderson.

Although the project is currently in production, so facts are liable to change, Walters is currently filming Mamma Mia! with Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, and Christine Baranski.

2006 brought the first novel for Walters entitled Maggie’s Tree.

Walters and her husband Grant Roffey married in 1997. Their daughter, Masie, was born in 1991. They currently reside on a farm located in Sussex.