Joined Granada's Stable Theatre for one year after finishing at Manchester Polytechnic

Stage debut in the Liverpool production of "The Taming of the Shrew"

Joined Everyman Theatre in Liverpool

Made London stage debut in "Funny Peculiar"

Early TV appearance in the British series "Screenplay"

Appeared on the West End production of "Educating Rita"

Co-starred with Victoria Wood in the Granada TV series "Wood and Walters"

Cast on the BBC2 comedy-drama "Boys from the Black Stuff"

Reprised stage role for the film version of "Educating Rita"; earned first Best Actress Academy Award nomination

Appeared opposite Ian Charleson in British stage production of "Fool for Love"

Played the mother in the British TV series "The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole"

Member of the British variety series "Victoria Wood As Seen On TV"

Had lead role in British stage production of "Frankie and Johnnie in the Clair de Lune"

Starred opposite Ken Stott in the West End revival of "The Rose Tattoo"

Played Robert Lindsay's mother on the Channel 4 series "GBH"

First American, opposite Liza Minnelli in "Stepping Out"

Headlined her own British TV special "Julie Walters and Friends"

Starred in British TV-movie "Wide-Eyed and Legless" (released in the US as "The Wedding Gift")

Garnered praise for her performance in "Sister, My Sister"

Co-starred with Rupert Graves in "Intimate Relations"

Had featured role in the British TV series "Melissa"

Played Victoria Wood's mother in the British comedy series "Dinnerladies"

Offered a strong performance as a 1970s Belfast housewife who tries to negotiate a peace in "Titanic Town"

Had featured role in the British TV remake of "Oliver Twist"

Played the title character's supportive ballet teacher in "Billy Elliot"; earned a Supporting Actress Academy Award nomination

Acted on the London stage in a revival of "All My Sons"

Cast as Mrs Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

Reprised role of Molly Weasley for "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Played a widow determined to make some good come out of her husband's death in "Calendar Girls"

Once again played Mrs Weasley in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"

Cast in Richard E. Grant's directorial debut, "Wah-Wah"

Played the lead role in "Driving Lessons" alongside Rupert Grint (who played her son Ron in the Harry Potter series)

Portrayed Jane Austin's mother in the period film, "Becoming Jane"

Featured in the film version of the ABBA musical "Mamma Mia!"

Returned to play Molly Weasley for "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"