We’re delighted to welcome Welsh actress and national treasure Joanna Page to Swansea to celebrate the publication of her memoir, Lush! – a funny, candid and endlessly surprising account of her journey from Swansea to stardom.
From a small village on the outskirts of Swansea to the sets of some of the all-time greatest movies and TV shows – like Love Actually and Gavin & Stacey – Joanna Page’s journey to stardom has been extraordinary.
In this funny, candid and endlessly surprising memoir, Joanna shares her story in full for the first time. Inside, she takes readers behind the scenes of her most iconic roles and introduces them to a colourful cast including Ruth Jones, James Corden, Richard E. Grant, Johnny Depp, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson.
Joanna also details her early life growing up on the glorious Welsh coastline – a life (not unlike Stacey Shipman’s) filled with family and friendly neighbours – to the sudden shock of moving to London at 18 (totally alone) to take her place at RADA, one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world.
Whether she’s navigating early awkward auditions and other uncomfortable incidents, chasing her big break, riding success (sometimes literally), falling in love, or discovering the magic and madness of life as a mum-of-four, Joanna speaks openly about what it really takes to make it in the acting world while staying true to yourself.
An unforgettable read that makes you laugh and cry, Lush! is a celebration of finding your voice, holding your ground and learning to laugh at the messiest, most beautiful moments life has to offer.
Joanna will be in conversation with Jude Rogers.
Born in Swansea, Joanna Page attended her local comprehensive school, before graduating from RADA in 1998. She then spent ten years in stage-based roles for the Royal National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company. She also secured roles in major films, such as From Hell, Mine All Mine, Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger and Richard Curtis’ classic, Love Actually.
Joanna came to wider public attention after taking a leading role in the BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey, playing the main part of Stacey Shipman. She appeared in the show’s three series between 2007 and 2010, before returning for a Christmas special in 2019 and the last ever episode, which aired on Christmas Day 2024 and was watched by over 20 million viewers – making it the UK’s most-watched scripted show since records began.
Joanna can be found now on TV as a presenter, most recently as the host of Joanna Page’s Wild Life for the BBC. Otherwise, she can be found at home with her husband, fellow actor James Thornton, and their four children, two dogs, and four guinea pigs.
Jude Rogers is a Welsh journalist, lecturer, arts critic and broadcaster. She is a music critic for The Guardian and also regularly writes features and articles for The Observer, New Statesman and women's magazines such as Red Her articles have also been published by The Times and by BBC Music and she broadcasts on BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 4 and BBC 6 Music. She is a senior lecturer in journalism at London Metropolitan University
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