Juliet Stevenson on Body Image, Gaza Abuse, and Her Regret Over Her Father's Death

Key facts

• Juliet Stevenson, 69, studied at RADA and made her film debut in Drowning By Numbers.
• She received an Olivier Award in 1992 for Death and the Maiden and the 2019 Critics’ Circle best actress award for The Doctor.
• She is currently touring By a Lady, a show about Jane Austen, performing at Buxton Opera House on 10 May.
• Stevenson describes herself as impulsive, enthusiastic, and determined.
• She says she has struggled with body image all her life and dislikes most of her appearance.
• She cites opposition to the assault on Gaza as a source of horrific online abuse, which she ignores.
• Her father died too young and never met her children, a constant source of grief.
• She would choose Jessie Buckley to play her in a film of her life.

A Candid Self-Portrait

Juliet Stevenson, the 69-year-old actor known for her roles in Truly, Madly, Deeply and Bend It Like Beckham, has offered a remarkably frank self-assessment in a recent interview. Born in Essex and trained at RADA, she made her film debut in Drowning By Numbers and has since built a career spanning stage and screen, including performances for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. She lives in London with her husband and two children. When asked to describe herself in three words, she chose “impulsive, enthusiastic, determined.” She named her most deplored trait as talking too much, and the trait she most deplores in others as cruelty. Her chosen superpower would be healing the sick.

A Lifelong Struggle with Body Image

Stevenson revealed a deep-seated dissatisfaction with her appearance, stating, “I’ve never been very keen on what I look like. I’ve struggled with body image all my life.” Asked what she most dislikes about her appearance, she replied simply, “Most of it.” The admission underscores a personal battle that has persisted despite her professional success. She also expressed what scares her about getting older: “Not being able to run.” The actor, who admits to driving very fast, said she has come close to death many times on British roads and would have liked to do Formula One in another life.

Grief and Regret Over Her Father's Death

When asked what extinct thing she would bring back, Stevenson chose her father, who died much too young and never knew her children. “It’s a constant source of grief,” she said. The loss remains a poignant thread in her life, shaping her perspective on family and time. She also recounted the worst thing anyone has said to her: the horrific online abuse she receives because of her opposition to the assault on Gaza. “The abuse is horrific, but I’ve learned to ignore it. The integrity of how you live your life is more important than what strangers think,” she stated.

Awards, Stage Work, and a Jane Austen Show

Stevenson’s stage career includes an Olivier Award in 1992 for her role in Death and the Maiden and the 2019 Critics’ Circle best actress award for The Doctor. She is currently touring By a Lady, a show about Jane Austen, which will be at the Buxton Opera House on 10 May. Her film work also includes Truly, Madly, Deeply and Bend It Like Beckham. In a lighter moment, she revealed that if a film were made of her life, she would want Jessie Buckley to play her. The last lie she told, she said, was that she was late because of traffic.

The Men Running the World and Other Discontents

What makes her unhappy? “The men currently running the world,” Stevenson said, without elaboration. The comment reflects a broader political awareness that aligns with her outspoken stance on Gaza. She has faced significant online backlash for her views but remains resolute. Her interview offers a rare glimpse into the private thoughts of a public figure, blending personal vulnerability with political conviction. The actor’s willingness to discuss body image, grief, and abuse speaks to a career built on emotional honesty.

The bottom line

• Juliet Stevenson has struggled with body image all her life, disliking most of her appearance.
• She receives horrific online abuse for opposing the assault on Gaza but prioritizes integrity over strangers' opinions.
• Her father's early death, before meeting her children, remains a constant source of grief.
• She would choose Jessie Buckley to portray her in a biopic and admits to driving very fast, having come close to death on British roads.
• Stevenson won an Olivier in 1992 and the Critics’ Circle best actress award in 2019, and is currently touring a show about Jane Austen.
• She describes herself as impulsive, enthusiastic, and determined, and names cruelty as the trait she most deplores in others.