Imelda Staunton reflects on her career and personal life in a reader-question interview, discussing roles from Harry Potter to children’s animations and theatre. She explains that Dolores Umbridge’s distinctive giggle was deliberately made brief and sharp, while also describing how radio work developed the vocal discipline behind her voice performances.

Staunton says she enjoys working with Bill Nighy, who co-stars with her in & Sons, and recalls performing alongside her husband, daughter and dog, joking that the dog was easiest to carry on stage. She also speaks about gardening during the heatwave, praising the scented Munstead Wood rose but warning that climate change and water shortages may force changes to what people grow.