Full Name
Baroness Floella Benjamin OM DBE DL
Company
Actor, broadcaster and advocate for children's welfare and education
Speaker bio
Floella is an actress, presenter, writer, independent producer, politician, advocate for children throughout the world and best known for the iconic TV programmes Playschool and PlayAway.
Floella has worked in the entertainment industry for over 50 years and has appeared on stage, radio, film and television, working with some Britain’s top directors. She has received numerous awards, including an OBE, a BAFTA Lifetime Award, the Women In Film & Television Lifetime Award and the JM Barrie Award for her legacy to children’s creative arts.
She has written over 30 books including ‘My Two Grannies’ and ‘Coming to England’. Her latest, a picture version of ‘Coming to England’ is a best seller. From 2006 to 2016 she was Chancellor of the University of Exeter and in 2010 she entered the House of Lords, where she speaks on diversity, equality and children’s issues. In 2020 she received a Damehood for her charitable work. She chaired the Windrush Commemoration Committee, overseeing the creation a National Monument to the Windrush Generation which was unveiled at Waterloo Station on Windrush Day, June 22nd 2022.
In 2023 she was asked by HM the King to Chair the Windrush Portrait Committee to select ten Windrush elders over the age of 90 for inclusion in the Royal Collection.
In 2022, the late Queen, just two days before she died, awarded Floella the Order of Merit.
Baroness Benjamin was chosen by King Charles to carry the King’s Sceptre with Dove at Westminster Abbey for his Coronation on the 6th May 2023.
Floella has worked in the entertainment industry for over 50 years and has appeared on stage, radio, film and television, working with some Britain’s top directors. She has received numerous awards, including an OBE, a BAFTA Lifetime Award, the Women In Film & Television Lifetime Award and the JM Barrie Award for her legacy to children’s creative arts.
She has written over 30 books including ‘My Two Grannies’ and ‘Coming to England’. Her latest, a picture version of ‘Coming to England’ is a best seller. From 2006 to 2016 she was Chancellor of the University of Exeter and in 2010 she entered the House of Lords, where she speaks on diversity, equality and children’s issues. In 2020 she received a Damehood for her charitable work. She chaired the Windrush Commemoration Committee, overseeing the creation a National Monument to the Windrush Generation which was unveiled at Waterloo Station on Windrush Day, June 22nd 2022.
In 2023 she was asked by HM the King to Chair the Windrush Portrait Committee to select ten Windrush elders over the age of 90 for inclusion in the Royal Collection.
In 2022, the late Queen, just two days before she died, awarded Floella the Order of Merit.
Baroness Benjamin was chosen by King Charles to carry the King’s Sceptre with Dove at Westminster Abbey for his Coronation on the 6th May 2023.
Speaking At
