Pamela Stephenson, now known as Pamela Ball, was born in New Zealand in 1949 and later moved to Australia, where she trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. She began her performing career in Australia before emigrating to the UK in 1976. Stephenson gained significant recognition for her role in the satirical sketch show 'Not the Nine O'Clock News,' which led to BAFTA nominations. Her career also included roles in television series like 'Space: 1999' and 'Saturday Night Live,' as well as films such as 'History of the World, Part I' and 'Superman III.'

Beyond her acting and comedy, Stephenson co-founded the protest group Parents for Safe Food. She later transitioned to a career in clinical psychology, earning a doctorate. In this capacity, she has written several books on mental health and relationships, including 'Head Case' and 'Sex Life,' and has contributed a sexual-advice column to The Guardian. Her autobiography, 'The Varnished Untruth,' was published in 2012.

Born Pamela Stephenson in New Zealand in 1949, she moved with her family to Australia in 1953. She pursued her education at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in Sydney. Her early life was marked by a significant traumatic event at age 16, which she later described as having a lasting impact on her feelings of rejection. Following her training at NIDA, she embarked on a performing career.

Stephenson's early career included stage and television roles in Australia before she moved to the UK in 1976. She appeared in British shows such as 'Space: 1999' and 'The Professionals.' Her breakthrough came with the sketch comedy series 'Not the Nine O'Clock News' (1979–1982), where her performances earned her BAFTA nominations. She also featured in films like Mel Brooks' 'History of the World, Part I' and 'Superman III,' and was a cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' from 1984 to 1985.

Later in her career, Stephenson shifted her focus to clinical psychology, obtaining a doctorate. This led to a new phase as an author, where she has written several books. Her literary work includes titles related to mental health, such as 'Head Case: Treat Yourself to Better Mental Health' (2009), and explorations of human sexuality in 'Sex Life: How Our Sexual Encounters and Experiences Define Who We Are' (2011). She also penned a sexual-advice column for The Guardian and authored her autobiography, 'The Varnished Untruth' (2012).

“I remember the feeling well, because I still experience it every time someone rejects me, even in some relatively small way”