Full Name: Glenda May Jackson (Glenda Jackson)
Born: May 9, 1936 – Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Died: June 15, 2023 – London, England
Occupations: Actress, Politician
Years Active:
- Acting: 1957–1992, 2015–2023
- Politics: 1992–2015
Notable Works: Women in Love, A Touch of Class, Elizabeth R, Sunday Bloody Sunday
Political Office: Member of Parliament (MP) for Hampstead and Kilburn (1992–2015)
Early Life
Glenda Jackson was born into a working-class family in Birkenhead, near Liverpool. She won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and began her stage career in the 1950s. Her early work with the Royal Shakespeare Company in the 1960s quickly established her as a formidable stage actress.
Acting Career
Jackson became internationally famous in the late 1960s and 1970s with a string of powerful performances in film and television. Known for her intense, cerebral style and willingness to take on challenging roles, she was widely respected both critically and artistically.
Major Film Roles:
- Women in Love (1969) – Won her first Academy Award for Best Actress.
- Sunday Bloody Sunday (1971) – Acclaimed performance in a groundbreaking film.
- A Touch of Class (1973) – Won her second Academy Award for Best Actress.
- Mary, Queen of Scots (1971) – Played Elizabeth I.
- Hedda (1975) – BAFTA-nominated role in Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.
Television and Stage:
- Elizabeth R (1971) – Emmy-winning portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC miniseries.
- A longtime Shakespearean actress, she later returned to stage triumphs including a lauded turn in King Lear on Broadway and in London in the 2010s.
Political Career
In 1992, Jackson retired from acting to pursue a political career. She was elected to the UK Parliament as a Labour MP, representing Hampstead and Highgate (later Hampstead and Kilburn). She served for over two decades and was known for her passionate speeches and firm principles.
Notably, she was:
- A junior transport minister in Tony Blair’s government (1997–1999).
- A vocal critic of the Iraq War.
- Advocated strongly for social justice, public transportation, and women’s rights.
She retired from politics in 2015.
Return to Acting & Final Years
After leaving politics, Jackson made a triumphant return to the stage. In 2016, she starred in King Lear to critical acclaim, followed by roles in Three Tall Women (winning a Tony Award in 2018) and Elizabeth is Missing (BBC, 2019), for which she won a BAFTA TV Award.
Death and Legacy
Glenda Jackson passed away peacefully on June 15, 2023, at the age of 87. She is remembered as a rare talent who succeeded at the highest levels in both the arts and politics—a trailblazing woman who defied categorization and left a profound legacy in both fields.
