Everybody’s favourite manic pixie dream aunt: Celia Imrie’s 20 best films – ranked! | Celia Imrie

20. Nanny McPhee (2005)Emma Thompson’s Mary-Poppins-with-warts is a canine’s dinner of a film, however Celia Imrie amuses herself (and infrequently us) with a broader-than-usual flip because the widowed Mrs Rapidly, who’s pursuing a father of seven (Colin Firth) pressured by his aunt to marry inside 30 days or face penury. Imrie cites this as one in all her favorite roles, regardless of having a stay tarantula on her head in a single scene and a wriggling worm in her mouth in one other.19. Home of Whipcord (1974)Amongst Imrie’s earliest credit was this exploitation horror a few secret, sadistic correctional institute for younger ladies. Barely glimpsed amid the frenzy of whipping, she tries to alert the skin world by throwing a Bible from a window. “Each time I’m in a type of terrible out-of-the-frying-pan conditions the place you escape solely to finish up again the place you began, I nonetheless use the phrase: ‘How Home of Whipcord!’” she recalled in her 2012 autobiography, The Glad Hoofer.18. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)All weapons blazing … in The Phantom Menace. {Photograph}: LucasfilmA casting director noticed Imrie reverse Harold Pinter in his play The Hothouse and really helpful her to George Lucas for the tiny position of the fighter pilot Bravo 5. She wore rust-coloured jodhpurs, however, on Lucas’s orders and to her chagrin, no lipstick: “I did my bit and fired my weapons, however I haven’t a notion what aspect I used to be on, who I used to be firing the weapons at, who I used to be hitting and whether or not or not we received.”17. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)Nothing very a lot for Imrie to do as Una, the most effective chum of Bridget’s mom, past presiding over the barbecue and providing to sieve the gravy, however she will get the occasional fake pas and provides typically to the impression of a high-calibre solid freed from useless wooden. She returned for additional helpings within the sequels.16. Completely Fabulous: The Film (2016)Rivals … Imrie with Jennifer Saunders (proper) and Jane Horrocks in Completely Fabulous: The Film. {Photograph}: David Appleby/Fox Searchlight/AllstarFeeling extra like a victory lap than a completely fledged film, this permits Imrie to reprise her sitcom position as Claudia Bing, the PR rival to Jennifer Saunders’ Edina Monsoon. It’s Claudia who blows the whistle after Edina apparently kills Kate Moss by knocking her into the Thames, and Claudia who prevents Jon Hamm from dashing valiantly to the mannequin’s support.15. Highlander (1986)‘Full rustic wench costume’ … in Highlander. {Photograph}: Landmark Media/AlamyImrie was kitted out in “full rustic wench costume” for this time-travelling folkloric fantasy, however Christopher Lambert was too weedy to elevate her on to his horse for the meant goodbye kiss. As a substitute, she merely grabs his calf and jogs beside him “whereas delivering the dialogue that I ought to have been doing as we galloped alongside collectively”. There was extra drama for her off-screen than on: she was briefly snatched from her lodge by a person who declared himself intent on persevering with the Pictish custom of kidnapping ladies.14. Revelation (2001)This The-Omen-meets-The-Da-Vinci-Code potboiler stars James D’Arcy because the cryptographer uncovering a plot to revive the antichrist. Po-faced Terence Stamp and Udo Kier have significantly much less enjoyable than Derek Jacobi, seen fleetingly as a librarian who brandishes a pair of cotton gloves and guarantees to examine Isaac Newton’s papers “for stains and so forth”. Imrie is the hero’s mom, burnt to a crisp in solely her second scene and squeezing out her remaining phrases in a high-pitched squeak.13. Mamma Mia: Right here We Go Once more! (2018)Razzle-dazzle … watch Imrie swap her mortar board and robe for a feather boa.A lot of the razzle-dazzle on this half prequel, half sequel comes courtesy of Cher, who makes her entrance by helicopter. However Imrie lets her hair down because the vice-chancellor of Oxford college on commencement day. As soon as Lily James, because the younger model of Meryl Streep’s character, Donna, has warbled her share of After I Kissed the Instructor and zoomed off throughout the quad, Imrie leaps from the stage trailing a canary-yellow feather boa and trilling: “What a mad day!”12. Think about Me and You (2005)Nuanced delights … with Anthony Head and Piper Perabo in Think about Me and You. {Photograph}: TCD/Prod.DB/AlamyIn this London-set lesbian romcom, the newlywed Piper Perabo leaves her husband for the florist (Lena Headey) who provided their wedding ceremony bouquets. Because the bride’s mom, Imrie nails the character in her haughty opening traces: “Darling, inform your father he can’t put on that swimsuit … I’ve seen higher dressed crab.” However there are nuanced delights to return, together with the thawing of relations between Imrie and her husband (Anthony Head) in the course of the kind of last-minute race by site visitors that was obligatory in Britcoms of the Richard Curtis period.11. A Remedy for Wellness (2016)If there have been ever a film star in dire want of a spell at a Swiss spa resort, it’s the sickly wanting Dane DeHaan. On this horror impressed by Magic Mountain and Shutter Island, he’s the chief despatched to retrieve a colleague, solely to seek out insanity and homicide afoot. Imrie, first seen doing a crossword together with her fellow bathrobed company, dispenses gobbets of backstory concerning the institute’s sinister origins. With prim lips and loaded stares, she delivers her portentous dialogue with aplomb. “There’s a horrible darkness right here,” she warns DeHaan. Subsequent cease: the morgue.10. Yr By the Sea (2016)Manic pixie dream aunt … in Yr By the Sea. {Photograph}: Montabela Productions/Kobal/ShutterstockEmerging from the Cape Cod fog like a mermaid, Imrie performs one of many wacky catalysts for a disillusioned author’s journey of self-discovery, providing a slogan for each event: “Who needs the burden of management?” “If we will’t present our emotions, we would as properly be males!” She has a high quality rapport with the movie’s lead, Karen Allen (of Raiders of the Misplaced Ark), however her character is actually a manic pixie dream aunt who twirls colored scarves, whoops among the many waves and impishly ignores the “Do Not Enter” indicators across the lighthouse. Think about Fried Inexperienced Tomatoes on the Whistle Cease Cafe , however served as a aspect, not a fundamental.9. The Finest Unique Marigold Lodge (2011)Pastures new … Imrie and Judi Dench in The Finest Unique Marigold. {Photograph}: Fox Searchlight Footage/Sportsphoto/AllstarWith Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Invoice Nighy and Tom Wilkinson, this Brits-in-India getaway is the Avengers Assemble of older British character actors. Imrie will get the slimmest pickings plot-wise, because the grandmother who opts for Jaipur somewhat than an eternity of babysitting. She packs her shrewd smirk and that dependable libido (on securing an airline improve: “I needed to flirt so onerous with the journey agent it was virtually telephone intercourse”) and will get a number of different alternative traces, complaining about getting previous (“I don’t need to be the primary particular person they let off the airplane in a hostage disaster”) and providing terse recommendation on how the unhappily married Nighy might have a good time his fortieth wedding ceremony anniversary (“Maybe a minute’s silence?”). A 2015 sequel provided her character a glimmer of romance.8. What We Did on Our Vacation (2014)Or Outnumbered: The Film. The author-directors Andy Hamilton and Man Jenkin protect the partly improvised nature of their kids-say-the-darnedest-things sitcom whereas changing its stars, Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner, with David Tennant and Rosamund Pike. The “sit” on this “com” is the party of their dying grandpa (Billy Connolly). After he expires on the seaside within the firm of the youngsters, Imrie is named in from the kid welfare unit. Reacting with understated incredulity to the youngsters’ tales of Viking funerals and the Norse god Odin, she rounds up their crayon drawings as proof.7. The Debtors (1997)Pleasant … with Jim Broadbent in The Debtors. {Photograph}: Working Title Movies/AllstarMary Norton’s journey novel a few tiny resourceful household who stay within the skirting boards and conceal from “human beans” has been the supply of quite a few diversifications, together with Studio Ghibli’s Arrietty in 2010. This creative British model, with Imrie and Jim Broadbent pleasant because the dad and mom and John Goodman in full panto mode because the hissable developer threatening their dwelling, is a charmer. Gemma Jackson’s manufacturing design is a particular spotlight. “It was fabulous strolling across the gigantic chair and desk legs and sitting on enormous cotton reels,” stated Imrie.6. Hilary and Jackie (1998)Tenacious mom … with Charles Dance in Hilary and Jackie. {Photograph}: Moviestore/ShutterstockIn a structurally daring biopic scripted by Frank Cottrell Boyce and carved into two contrasting views, Imrie performs the tenacious mom of the cellist Jacqueline du Pré (Emily Watson), encouraging competitors together with her sister Hilary (Rachel Griffiths). “If you wish to be collectively, you’ve bought to be nearly as good as one another,” she insists, establishing a sample of rivalry that splashes over into their love lives.5. Love Sarah (2020)In her early scenes because the grieving mom Mimi, Imrie makes you realise that, with the assistance of some heavyweight roles, she might have approached the gravitas of her pal Glenda Jackson (she was Goneril to Jackson’s Lear in 2016). Simply have a look at her deep grooves of expertise and remorse, her instantaneous entry to purse-lipped froideur. That dissipates as Mimi helps to launch the west London patisserie her late daughter by no means bought the possibility to open and tensions vanish beneath a dusting of feelgood whimsy thicker than a number of inches of icing sugar. However Imrie is extremely watchable in her flirtations with the neighbourhood inventor (Invoice Paterson), whom she invitations up for espresso. If it isn’t decaf, he says, he’ll be “up all night time”. Cue the naughty Imrie twinkle: “Fortunate me.”4. Malevolent (2018)This haunted-house horror stars Florence Pugh and Ben Lloyd-Hughes as bogus ghostbusters employed to rid a rustic mansion of the screams of the wee poppets who have been murdered there. Imrie was their foster mom, her son the killer, so it’s no shock when she declares that the brats had it coming. What’s putting is how she maintains her cool, and retains the amount down, even as soon as she turns torture-porn-style aggressor. “It’s quiet time now,” she whispers, approaching her sufferer’s mouth with a needle and thread. All of it goes a bit wild after she whips the hacksaw out.3. Calendar Ladies (2003)Cherry on the cake … in Calendar Ladies. {Photograph}: AlamyTime has been sort to this factually impressed Britcom concerning the Girls’s Institute members – performed by stars together with Helen Mirren, Julie Walters and Linda Bassett – who strip for a charity calendar, ruffling feathers however elevating sufficient to fund a whole leukaemia ward at their native hospital. Finally, they find yourself in Hollywood, hob-nobbing with Jay Leno and the thrash metallic band Anthrax, of all individuals. Imrie offers numerous comedian side-eye as she works out with a scorching younger coach in preparation for the massive shoot; she is the one one to specific disappointment that her breasts will probably be tastefully hid within the remaining product. “Yours good, are they?” asks Mirren, to which she coolly replies: “They’re great.” Settle for no Imrie-tations.2. Discovering Your Ft (2017)Free spirit … with Imelda Staunton in Discovering your Ft. {Photograph}: Moviestore Assortment/AlamyImelda Staunton is the hoity-toity snob (“Woman Nevershit”, as she is referred to) who flees her dishonest husband and strikes in together with her wild-swimming, dope-smoking, bisexual sister, Bif (Imrie), within the latter’s council flat, in addition to becoming a member of her and classmates Timothy Spall and Joanna Lumley on the native dance group. Imrie is in free spirit mode once more, however extra complicated right here than in Yr By the Sea – though, weirdly, each movies present her boogieing to the Massive Bopper’s Chantilly Lace. Till most cancers places paid to her Extinction Rebel vim, she exudes sexual swagger. “Thirty minutes and I’ll be good to go,” says her date, waggling a blister pack of Viagra. “I’ll get you there in 10,” she grins.1. Blue Black Everlasting (1992)Faintly formidable … in Blue Black Everlasting. {Photograph}: BFIThe solely function to be directed by the Orkney-based poet and film-maker Margaret Tait gave Imrie an early dramatic lead. She performs Barbara, a discontented photographer puzzling over the life and demise of her mom, who drowned years earlier. Was it sleepwalking or suicide? Sifting episodes from her personal and her mom’s childhood, Barbara desires of flying, wrestles with guilt (“I ought to have been capable of cease her, or save her”) and spars together with her personal lover, performed by the perpetually sanguine Jack Shepherd. This provides Imrie room to exhibit her brittle, indignant intelligence and to sigh an terrible lot. Together with her faintly formidable air, it’s simple to think about she might have turn out to be the subsequent Charlotte Rampling.