Julie Walters so proud to be included on Birmingham's Walk of Stars

Oct 28 2009 By Ben Goldby

Black Country actress Julie Walters has described her new place on the Broad Street Walk of Stars as a proud honour.

The leading lady, who was born and raised in Smethwick, entertained a crowd of more than 200 fans as she received her star at Birmingham’s Rep Theatre on Tuesday.

Julie, aged 59, told the crowd: “I am proud to be referred to as a Brummie, even though I’m from the Black Country.

“Birmingham has turned into the most beautiful city and a substantial bit of my heart rests very firmly here.

“I’m proud and honoured to accept a place on the Walk of Stars.”

The comic, best known for her roles in the smash hit movies Harry Potter, Mamma Mia, Calendar Girls and Educating Rita, was in fine form as she joked with Heart FM’s Ed James, who hosted the event.

“Just make sure there isn’t any dog mess on it, that’s all I ask,” Julie said. “My family are going to love this, it’s much more important than any other award.”

Ms Walters has twice been nominated for the prestiguous Oscars, for her roles in Billy Elliot and Educating Rita, but told her fans that the role she had enjoyed the most was that of Brummie cleaning lady Mrs Overall in the Victoria Wood sitcom Acorn Antiques.

From her humble origins as a nursing student at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth hospital in the late 1960s, she has gone on to become a CBE for her services to drama, and has won Golden Globe and BAFTA awards for her films.

She has also had the chance to work with some of the silver screen’s most eligible male leads, something she poked fun at during her Question and Answer session with the audience at the Rep.

“The sexiest actor is difficult to choose, both Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth are very talented very sexy men,” she told her fans.

“I’ve been very lucky, I haven’t had to work with too many gits.”

Julie will be appearing in the BBC’s Victoria Wood Xmas Special in December, and as MP Mo Mowlem in the Channel Four drama Mo in January next year.