Pamela Stephenson Net Worth

What is Pamela Stephenson's net worth?

Pamela Stephenson is a psychologist, writer, actress, and comedian from New Zealand who has a net worth of $20 million. She is best known for her breakout role in the British satirical sketch television show "Not the Nine O'Clock News," which aired from 1979 to 1982, and for her one-year stint (1984–1985) on the American sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live." While in her 40s, she stepped away from the stage and screen to obtain a degree in clinical psychology.

Early Years

Pamela Stephenson was born on December 4, 1949, in Auckland, New Zealand, the daughter of two scientists. When she was four years old, her family relocated to Australia. She attended Boronia Park Primary School in Sydney, followed by Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School in Darlinghurst. She then enrolled at the University of New South Wales but left to attend the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney.

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Film, Stage & Television

Upon graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1970, Pamela Stephenson joined the National Theatre and performed in several stage productions, including the musical "Gypsy."

In 1972, she played Elise in a television production of the 1888 opera "The Yeoman of the Guard." Over the next two years, she had a recurring role on the Australian adventure television series "Ryan."

Pamela made her film debut in the 1973 Australian black comedy "Private Collection" and later played a nurse in the British film "Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers."

At 27, with several Australian and British plays, films, and television shows under her belt, Pamela moved to the United Kingdom, where she briefly attempted stand-up comedy, which she disliked. She went on to play Michelle Osgood in an episode of the science-fiction television show "Space: 1999" and, in 1977, played Wendy in an episode of the secret agent series "The New Avengers." In 1978, she appeared in the crime-action series "The Professionals."

Pamela was cast as Josephine in the Australian television adaptation of the opera "The Violins of Saint-Jacques" before joining the British satirical sketch comedy show "Not the Nine O'Clock News," which aired from 1979 to 1982. On the show, she caricatured such figures as English broadcaster Angela Rippon and newsreader Janet Leeming while playing various other comedic roles. The show won the Golden Rose Award in 1980 and the British Academy Television Award for Best Light Entertainment Programme in 1981.

Pamela played Mademoiselle Rimbaud in the 1981 American comedy film "History of the World, Part 1." That same year, she appeared in performances of Clive James's 2,000-line poem "Charles Charming's Challenges On The Pathway To The Throne" in London.

In 1982, she starred in Joseph Papp's production of "The Pirates of Penzance" in London's West End. The following year, she played Lorelei Ambrosia, the antagonist's girlfriend, in the superhero film "Superman III."

In 1984, Pamela starred in the British-American comedy film "Scandalous" alongside John Gielgud, the British horror comedy "Bloodbath at the House of Death" with Vincent Price, and the American comedy "Finders Keepers" with Jim Carrey. That same year, she joined the cast of the American late-night comedy sketch show "Saturday Night Live" for its tenth season.

Pamela appeared in the 1987 Australian comedy films "Those Dear Departed" and "Les Patterson Saves the World."

In 1989, she participated in the BBC Radio play "The Spectre of Ernie Pike" and, the following year, presented the five-episode BBC television series "Move Over Darling."

In 1993, Pamela hosted the Australian television series "Sex." From 2007 to 2010, she hosted the British television series "Shrink Rap," in which she used psychotherapy while interviewing celebrity guests, including Sharon Osbourne, Robin Williams, Carrie Fisher, and Joan Rivers.

Pamela competed in the BBC One dance competition "Strictly Come Dancing" in 2010. Paired with English ballroom dancer and choreographer James Jordan, they finished in third place. She later formed a dance company with Brazilian dancer Braz Dos Santos and produced the stage production "Brazouka," which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and toured until 2015.

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Psychology

Pamela Stephenson returned to the United States in her 40s and enrolled at Antioch University in Ohio. She went on to attend the California Graduate Institute and, in 1996, was awarded her doctorate in clinical psychology. She became an adjunct professor at the institute and founded the Los Angeles Sexuality Center, an online research facility that operated for five years.

Safe Food Advocacy

In 1989, Pamela Stephenson co-founded Parents for Safe Food with George Harrison and several other celebrities.

In 1990, the organization released the book "Parents for Safe Food 1990-1991: Safe Food Handbook," which answered questions concerning irradiation, intensive farming, hormones, and food additives. The book also included an alphabetical shopper's guide listing the most commonly bought food products and any risks associated with them.

The organization successfully campaigned against the plant growth regulator Daminozide (Alar), which was being sprayed on fruits and vegetables and had been linked to cancerous activity in test animals. While Alar was banned in the U.S. in 1989, its use was voluntarily discontinued in the UK rather than being officially banned.

Writing

In 1987, Pamela Stephenson co-wrote the book "How to Be a Complete Bitch" with Mike Lepine and Mark Leigh. The book became a UK best-seller and inspired a board game of the same name in 1988.

In 2002, she released "Billy," a biography of her husband, Scottish actor, musician, artist, and comedian Billy Connolly. The book became a best-seller in Britain and was followed by another book about Connolly, "Bravemouth," two years later.

After spending a year retracing the sailing route of Robert Louis Stevenson, she wrote "Treasure Islands: Sailing the South Seas in the Wake of Fanny and Robert Louis Stevenson" in 2005. The following year, she explored the South Pacific route of her ancestor Samuel Stephenson, which resulted in the book "Murder or Mutiny: Mystery, Piracy and Adventure in the Spice Islands."

In 2007, Pamela began writing a weekly advice column for the British daily newspaper "The Guardian" called "Sexual Healing." That same year, she released the book "Head Case: Treat Yourself to Better Mental Health."

In 2009, she began writing an advice column for "Australian Women's Weekly" called "Love Matters." Two years later, she released "Sex Life: How Our Sexual Encounters and Experiences Define Who We Are."

Her autobiography, "The Varnished Truth: My Story," was published in 2012. In it, she revealed that she was raped at the age of 16 by a heroin-addicted man twice her age, who gave her a sexually transmitted infection. She also stated that when her parents learned she was infected, they expelled her from their home—a trauma she never fully recovered from.

Personal Life

In 1978, Pamela Stephenson married English actor John Nicholas Ball. They divorced in 1984. In 1989, she married Scottish actor, musician, artist, and comedian Billy Connolly, whom she had met in 1979. They have three daughters. Pamela converted to Buddhism in 1979.

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