Geraldine James
About
Biography
Biography
This softly attractive brunette is best known to British and American TV viewers as Sarah Layton in the miniseries "The Jewel in the Crown" (1984) to filmgoers as Mirabehn, the fanatical western follower of "Gandhi" (1982) and to theatergoers as Portia opposite Dustin Hoffman in the London and Broadway (1989-90) production of "The Merchant of Venice." Geraldine James has kept a low profile to American audiences, but has had an active career in her native England, on stage and in film and television. She first won notice on the London stage as Dr. Von Zandt in the 1979 production of "The Passion of Dracula." She played Jessica in a heralded Coventry production of "The Merchant of Venice" a decade before playing Portia opposite Hoffman.
James' career was enhanced by playing opposite Dame Peggy Ashcroft in "She's Been Away" (1989), for which they were both cited as Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival. More international notice has come with TV roles including the moderately successful comedy "Blott on the Landscape" (1986), in which she was a woman trying to save her family's estate, as the beloved teacher in the 1989 miniseries "Echoes" and as Nora's friend Kristina in "A Doll's House" (1992). James was also seen in the 1995 HBO miniseries "Band of Gold," a thriller in which prostitutes were being hunted by a serial killer. She also gained notice for her turn as a courtesan in Pen Densham's "Moll Flanders" (1996), starring Robin Wright.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1979
Made feature film debut, "Bloody Kids"
1979
Starred in London production of "The Passion of Dracula"
1982
Played small role in Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi"
1984
Starred as Sarah Layton in "The Jewel in the Crown" (Granada TV; shown on PBS in the U.S.)
1986
Starred in miniseries "Blott on the Landscape" (BBC; shown on A&E in the U.S.)
1989
Portrayed Portia in Broadway production of "The Merchant of Venice" opposite Dustin Hoffman
1996
Co-starred as Edna in "Moll Flanders"
1997
Appeared in "The Man Who Knew Too Little," starring Bill Murray
2000
Co-starred in "The Luzhin Defence" with Emily Watson and John Turturro
2003
Cast alongside Helen Mirren and Julie Walters in the comedy feature "Calendar Girls"
2004
Played Lady Rowley in the BBC miniseries "He Knew He Was Right"
2009
Played the title character's landlady Mrs. Hudson in Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes"
2010
Landed a minor role in Tim Burton directed "Alice in Wonderland"
2011
Joined the cast of David Fincher directed "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," based on the novel by Stieg Larsson
2011
Reprised role in the sequel "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows"
2013
Appeared on TV series "Utopia"
2016
Reprised "Alice in Wonderland" role in "Alice Through the Looking Glass"
2016
Cast as Julie Wells on "The Five"
2017
Played Marilla Cuthbert on "Anne"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
