Pamela Stephenson was born on 4 December 1949 in Takapuna, Auckland.[1] Stephenson studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney.[2][3] After graduating from NIDA in 1970,[4]: 35 she was engaged by Edgar Metcalfe on a six-month contract for the National Theatre Company, and performed in six plays at The Playhouse Theatre, Perth in 1971.[5]
She gained prominence from her part in the 1980s UK comedy television sketch show Not The Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982), alongside Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones.[6][7]: 591 [8] Her other film appearances include History of the World, Part I (1981) and Superman III (1983). She presented a psychology-based interview show called Shrink Rap and was a finalist in the eighth series of the BBC1 television show Strictly Come Dancing. Since marrying Billy Connolly in 1989 she has sometimes been credited as Pamela Stephenson-Connolly.
- ^ "Pamela Stephenson". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Pamela Stephenson: Biography". BBC. 2014. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ^ "Pamela Stephenson-Connolly discovered her passion for dance as a child when she and her sister were sent to classes during their recovery from polio. It was how she realised her love for the stage and dance soon gave way to acting". Western Suburbs Weekly. 16 September 2014. p. 20.
- ^ Stephenson, Pamela (4 July 2013). The varnished untruth. London: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781849839235.
- ^ Parsons, Philip; Chance, Victoria, eds. (1996). Companion to Theatre in Australia. Sydney: Currency Press. p. 395. ISBN 0868193577.
- ^ Gilchrist, Jim (16 July 2009). "The Graduate". The Scotsman. p. 18. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1986). Halliwell's television companion. London: Grafton. ISBN 9780246128386.
- ^ Cain, Scott (2 July 1983). "Pamela Stephenson takes her comedy work seriously". The Atlanta Constitution. p. W.10.