Eileen Atkins was born in a Salvation Army Women's Hostel in north London. Her father was a gas meter reader; her mother, a seamstress and barmaid. A drama teacher taught her how to drop her Cockney accent, and she studied Shakespeare and Greek tragedies. Her breakthrough role in "The Killing of Sister George" took her to Broadway.



She was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1990 Queen's Honours List and awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama. She was awarded the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1989 (1988 season) for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for "Cymbeline and Mountain Language". She was awarded the 2004 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress of the 2003 season for her performance in "Honour" at the Royal National Theatre: Cottesloe Stage. She was awarded the 1997 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress for her performance in A Delicate Balance. She was nominated for a 1997 (1996) Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best Actress in a play for her performance in "John Gabriel Borkman". Won the Best Actress Award for "Honour" at the 2004 Laurence Olivier Awards. Is a breast cancer survivor. She claims to be high-maintenance