a dozen more dames we all love
With twiggy joining the proud roll call of great british women to receive a damehood, we find out what it takes and who else is in this exclusive club
From Kelly holmes to Judi Dench, meet 12 more worthy recipients
There really is nothing like a dame. our cover star twiggy, 69, real name lesley lawson, who has been at the top of the modelling industry since she was the face of the 1960s, was awarded a damehood for services to fashion, the arts and charity in the Queen’s new year’s Honours list. “I have been in the business now for over 50 years so to have this honour is a nice feeling,” she said.
the ceremony was conducted by the Prince of Wales who congratulated
her and said, “It’s about time you got this – we’re all thrilled for you!”
other luminaries include Julie andrews, Helen mirren, Judi Dench, Julie Walters, margaret Drabble, anna Wintour, Joan Collins, mary beard and Darcey bussell.
Helen mirren was afraid a damehood would “set her apart”, Judi Dench worried she would have to start behaving well, and journalist Jenni murray was concerned she might be seen as “a traitor to my class”. they all got over it and said yes. but those who politely declined include author Doris lessing, actress and politician Glenda Jackson, actress Geraldine mcewan, artist bridget Riley and actress Vanessa Redgrave.
Critics might label the honours system archaic and certainly it has not moved with the times in terms of equality. While a man receiving a knighthood becomes “sir” and his wife, “lady”, the partner of a dame gets nothing.
even so, there’s no doubt becoming a “Dame Commander” is a huge honour, so here we proudly present a dozen of our favourite dames…
1 Joan Collins, 85
For services to charity after a lifetime of success on stage and screen – with some very racy roles on her CV – Joan was made a dame in 2015 in recognition of her tireless work for charities, including being a patron of the shooting star Chase Children’s Hospices. “I never really believed it would happen,” said Joan, but when it did, she was “elated and ecstatic” over her honour.
2 Barbara Windsor, 81
For services to charity and entertainment the Carry On star became a dame in 2016, but was upset by criticism she was an unlikely recipient. “Why do you want to rain on my parade?” she said. “For a girl from the east end born into a working-class family, this is truly like a dream.”
3 Katherine Grainger, 43
For services to sport and charity the olympic gold-medal rower was honoured in 2017 and said unlike sport, a damehood was “something you can never really aim for or find your way to get, so it takes quite a while to get used to. It is something which none of us ever expects.”
4 Evelyn Glennie, 53
For services to music the scottish virtuoso percussionist, who is profoundly deaf, was made a dame in 2007 and a Companion of Honour a decade later. “the damehood was a huge surprise,” she said. “It brings responsibilities and expectations with it; I don’t want to disappoint.”
5 Emma Thompson, 60
For services to drama The Oscar-winning actress received a damehood last year and joked she makes her family bow to her. She turned up to the ceremony in a Stella McCartney trouser suit and trainers and said, “I love Prince William, I’ve known him since he was little, and we just sniggered at each other.” >>
6 Julie Walters, 68
For services to drama The British actress was thrilled to get her gong in 2017. “It’s a lovely thing, I can’t explain it,” she said. “I thought, ‘I wish my parents were here’.” When Walters flew back to the Mamma Mia 2 set she was serenaded by the cast singing, There is Nothin’ Like a Dame.
7 Parveen Kumar, 76
For services to MediciNe aNd Medical educatioN leading gastroenterologist Parveen Kumar’s pioneering work earned her a damehood in 2017. “It came as a great surprise,” she said. “I owe the damehood to all my wonderful patients and dedicated staff and friends: it was a team effort.”
8 Judi Dench, 84
For services to draMa the prolific actress was made a dame in 1988 and the even higher honour of a companion of honour in 2005. the oscar-winner said being a dame is useful for getting a table at a restaurant, “but you have to get someone else to do the booking.”
9 Margaret Whitehead, 70
For services to puBlic health Professor margaret Whitehead’s lifelong work in health inequalities won her a damehood in 2016. “I am both honoured and overwhelmed,” she said, adding it was “recognition of the importance of using research to tackle the unfairness of health inequalities.”
10 Kelly Holmes, 49
For services to athletics the olympic gold-medal athlete got the award in 2005. “I have won 14 major medals and to top it off with this is fantastic,” she said.
11 Vivienne Westwood, 78
For services to British FashioN the british designer was made a dame in 2006 and, as in 1992 when she received an obe, went to buckingham Palace without any knickers. apparently, the Queen thought it funny the first time. “she was rather amused by it,” she said.
12 Kristin Scott Thomas, 58
For services to drama The Four Weddings and a Funeral actress became a dame in 2015, saying she was “thrilled and astonished”. Shortly after getting her gong she played The Queen in the West End production The Audience and revealed the monarch told her, “it would be quite a challenge.” w&h