Joanna Lumley to announce shock retirement from acting?

Sad news for Lumley fans. Speculation had been rife that the British actress will announce her retirement from acting, at age 79, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 09/04/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being an actress isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being an actress-model just isn't fun anymore,” she might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that she may branch out into other creative fields she is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouJoanna

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouJoanna was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made her make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouJoanna.”
— @DesireePlum, 8 Apr 2026

“Didn't Joanna Lumley retire about 3 years ago?”
— @samy2love, 8 Apr 2026

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