Dame Joanna Lumley — a national treasure, actress, and lifelong humanitarian — has unexpectedly found herself in the eye of a political storm after making remarks about the UK’s capacity to handle ongoing migration.

Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, the Absolutely Fabulous star reportedly warned that Britain is “a small nation” and “cannot feed millions” amid growing global migration pressures. While some audience members applauded her candour, others accused her of echoing right-wing rhetoric, a charge that Lumley has firmly rejected.

“My heart has always been with people who are displaced, but we must also be realistic about what a small island can sustain,” Lumley said during her talk, referring to recent migrant arrivals across the Channel.

The actress — long admired for her humanitarian work with Gurkha veterans, refugees, and disaster victims — stressed that her comments came from a place of concern and compassion, not hostility.

Still, social media quickly erupted. Critics accused her of “betraying her humanitarian image,” while supporters praised her for “saying what many are too afraid to say.”

Political commentators have described the reaction as symptomatic of Britain’s ongoing culture war over migration — a topic that continues to divide public opinion sharply.

In a statement shared through her publicist, Lumley clarified that she remains “deeply committed to helping those in need,” adding that her comments were meant to highlight the need for balance, sustainability, and empathy in addressing the crisis.

“We must never lose our compassion — but we must also ensure that the help we give can last,” she explained.

As the debate continues to rage online and in the press, what was meant to be a quiet literary appearance has instead reignited one of Britain’s most volatile national conversations — with Dame Joanna Lumley, unexpectedly, at its centre.