James was born in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Her father was a cardiologist who divorced James’ mother when the girl was fourteen. Miss James’ mother, an alcoholic, was often gripped by her addiction and would be confined to her bed for extended periods of time. James described her childhood as “miserable. My mother was an alcoholic, in and out of hospital my entire childhood. My father, a doctor, divorced her when I was 14. My brother and sister and I had no one to turn to, and we never spoke about it. I couldn't tell anyone, 'It's Christmas Day. Mummy's in bed and no one's cooked us dinner.' We thought we were freaks. When you're a child, you blame yourself and think you're a bad person because Mummy is in bed crying and won't get up.”
Despite her trying upbringing, James excelled in her studies and was educated at Drama Centre London. In the late 1970’s and 1980’s, James made several memorable, high-profile television appearances. During this period, she also had featured parts in films such as Gandhi and The Tall Guy.
Miss James’ range is apparent. The same woman who played opposite Dustin Hoffman in the Broadway and West End productions of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is also the woman who played Harvey Pincher’s mother in Little Britain. Recent film appearances include the two newest Sherlock Holmes movies, Alice in Wonderland, Made in Dagenham, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the new version of Arthur.
In addition to her busy career, Geraldine James is an active patron of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACOA) which offers assistance and counseling to people who grew up in conditions similar to those in which Miss James was raised. She said, the NACOA “offers a lifeline to children like me. Mummy was finally saved by Alcoholics Anonymous and spent the last ten years of her life sober. Having my mother back was fantastic.
For her exceptional talent and her enormous giving sprit, Geraldine James is our “Humanitarian of the Week.”
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