Staunton was born in Archway, North London, the only child of Bridie (née McNicholas), a hairdresser, and Joseph … See more

Staunton graduated from RADA in 1976, then spent six years in British repertory theatre, including a period at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter, where she had the title role in Shaw's Saint Joan (1979). She then moved on t… See more

Staunton and her husband, actor Jim Carter, have a daughter, Bessie, born in 1993. In 2007, they appeared in the BBC series Cranford, with Carter as Captain Brown and Bessie as a maid. They live in West Hampstead… See more

Staunton has received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, four Olivier Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, … See more

• 1990: Into the Woods – Original London Cast; as baker's wife.
• 2010: Julia Donaldson Audio Collection; as the narrator of the Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, Highway Rat, Zog, and Charlie Cook's Favourite B… See more