Glenda Jackson: A Legendary Actress and Politician’s Legacy and Career

2023-06-15 15:15:16

As of June 15, 2023, 5:15 p.m

British actress Glenda Jackson has died at the age of 87 following a “brief illness”. Her agent Lionel Larner confirmed this on Thursday (June 15). Accordingly, the two-time Oscar winner and former member of the British House of Commons fell asleep peacefully at home in London with her family.

In demand in the UK and Hollywood

Glenda Jackson was one of the most distinguished actresses in Great Britain and was one of the most sought-following stars in Hollywood for a long time. The accomplished character actress won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1971 for her role in the drama “Women in Love.” Three years later, she received her second Academy Award for the romantic comedy Dude, you’re great!.

The Briton, who was born Glenda May Jackson in Birkenhead in north-west England in 1936, had previously attracted attention in the theater and soon following with smaller film and television roles.

Glenda Jackson made a name for herself in Great Britain, but also in Hollywood. (Archive)
Image copyright: Getty Images

Oscars “Not That Important”

After breaking into Hollywood, the ’70s became Jackson’s decade. During this time, she was nominated for best actress four times, but Jackson never attended the glamorous ceremony in Los Angeles. The Oscars are “not as important as everyone thinks,” she justified her absence in the magazine “Entertainment Weekly”. And further: “You don’t play to get a prize.”

I didn’t win (the Oscars). They were given to me.

Glenda Jackson | Entertainment Weekly

Not only the two Academy Awards were “given” to Jackson, who was also celebrated on Broadway. Her awards also include: a Golden Globe, three Emmys and a Tony Award.

Second career as a politician

Besides acting, politics was Jackson’s great passion, perhaps even the greater one. Jackson left her acting career in her mid-50s to run for the Labor Party in the 1992 general election. With success. She moved into the House of Commons, where she stood out as a harsh critic of Margaret Thatcher and Conservative policies.

She was a member of the British Parliament for more than 20 years. In the late 1990s, she failed in her attempt to become Mayor of London. Jackson finally retired from active politics in 2015.

Until 2015 Glenda Jackson was still active as a politician. (Archive)
Image rights: dpa

return to acting

A year later, the chain smoker with the deep voice was back on the theater stage, first in London for Shakespeare’s “King Lear”, then on Broadway in Edward Albee’s “Three Great Women”, for which she – then 82 years old – received the Tony Award . She hadn’t originally intended to make films once more.

After a 47-year break, she was back in front of the camera for the drama “The Great Escaper” – together with Hollywood star Michael Caine. It is still unclear when Jackson’s last film will be shown in cinemas.

Jackson was married to actor Roy Hodges from 1958 to 1976. Both have a son together. In 1978, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Jackson “Commander of the British Empire” for her services.

On the subject

This topic in the program:The First | BRISANT | June 15, 2023 | 5:15 p.m

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