Joanna Lumley has discussed emetophobia, which leaves her terrified of seeing people becoming violently ill and vomiting.
The 79-year-old actress has spoken exclusively with RadioTimes for next week’s magazine, sharing how she feels about an increase in certain scenes on screen.
Unfortunately for her, she’s noticed an increase in shows depicting people becoming sick, and it’s something that’s become an issue when it comes to watching certain shows for her.
Speaking exclusively to Ginny Dougary for the next issue of RadioTimes (out on Tuesday), she said: “I think they should give people sick warnings!”
Lumley also revealed that she has a medical condition called prosopagnosia, which means she’s unable to recognise people’s faces, admitting: “I quite often greet complete strangers as if they’re my dearest friends.”
Joanna is currently set to return to our our screens in the BBC’s Amandaland, playing the abrasive mother of Lucy Punch’s titular character.
Famed for her comedy roles – most notably the chain-smoking, Bollinger-chugging Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous – Joanna has since gone on to host travel shows and a podcast series with her husband Roger Allam.
Last year, she appeared in Netflix’s Wednesday as the character’s grandmother, Hester Frump, a role she’ll reprise in the upcoming third season.
Her choice in roles has meant she’s been able to avoid something she’s not a fan of – TV sex scenes.
While popular shows such as Bridgerton, House of the Dragon and The Hunting Wives have embraced raunchy scenes, Lumley admits it’s one thing she’s not a fan of doing or watching.
“I just think, ‘Poor old actors, there they go again, having to hammer away at each other, and look good while doing it’ and it’s pathetic,” she said.
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While she notes that “lots of people adore it”, she added: “I just don’t like it. I love the heart, the falling in love, the brush of the hand, the glance across the room, those are the things that you remember.”
Amandaland returns to our screens next month, with Lumley back in character as Felicity Sanderson from Wednesday 6 May.
Felicity will be on hand to guide her ambitious daughter through life post-divorce – whether Amanda wants her advice or not.
Read the full interview with Joanna Lumley in next week’s RadioTimes, out Tuesday.
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