Glenda Jackson

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Glenda Jackson
CBE
Glenda Jackson.JPG
Member of Parliament
for Hampstead and Kilburn
Hampstead and Highgate (1992–2015)
In role
9 April 1992 – 7 May 2015
Preceded byGeoffrey Finsberg
Succeeded byTulip Siddiq
Majority42 (0.1%)
Personal details
Born9 May 1936 (age 79)
Birkenhead, England
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)Roy Hodges (1958–1976)
ChildrenDan
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
from the BBC programme The Film Programme, 6 July 2007.[1]
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Glenda May Jackson, CBE (born 9 May 1936) is a British Labour Party politician and former actress. She first became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1992, and represented Hampstead and Kilburn until 2015.
As a professional actress from the late 1950s, she spent four years as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1964, being particularly associated with the work of director Peter Brook. During her film career, she won two Academy Awards for Best Actress: for Women in Love (1970) and A Touch of Class (1973). Other award-winning performances include Alex in the film Sunday Bloody Sunday(1971) and the BBC television serial Elizabeth R (also 1971); for the latter she received an Emmy.
Before 2010, Jackson was the MP for Hampstead and Highgate, and early in the government of Tony Blair served as a Junior Transport minister from 1997 to 1999, later becoming critical of Blair. After constituency boundary changes for the 2010 general election, her majority of 42 votes was one of the closest results of the entire election.[2] She announced in 2011 that she would stand down as an MP at the next general election.

Early life and career[edit]

Jackson was born in Birkenhead on the Wirral, Cheshire, where her father was a builder, and her mother worked in shops and as a cleaner.[3] Jackson was educated at the West Kirby County Grammar School for Girls, and performed at the Towns Women's Guild drama group during her teens.[3] She worked for two years in a branch of the Boots the Chemist chain before taking up a scholarship in 1954 to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[4]
Jackson made her professional stage debut in Terence Rattigan's Separate Tables in 1957 while at RADA.[5] and appeared in repertory for the next six years.[6] Her film debut was a bit part in This Sporting Life (1963). A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for four years from 1964, she originally joined for director Peter Brook's 'Theatre of Cruelty' season which included Peter Weiss' Marat/Sade(1965) in which she played an inmate of an asylum portraying Charlotte Corday, the assassin of Marat.[7] The production ran on Broadway in 1965 and in Paris[6] (Jackson appeared in the 1967 film version) and Jackson also appeared as Ophelia in Peter Hall's production of Hamlet in the same year.[8] Critic Penelope Gilliatt thought Jackson was the only Ophelia she had seen who was ready to play the Prince himself.[9] The RSC's staging at the Aldwych Theatre of US (1966), a protest play against the Vietnam War, also featured Jackson, and she appeared in its film version, Tell Me Lies.[10]

From 1969 to 1980[edit]

Jackson's starring role in Ken Russell's film of Women in Love (1969) led to her winning her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Brian McFarlane, the main author of The Encyclopedia of British Film, has written: "Her blazing intelligence, sexual challenge and abrasiveness were at the service of a superbly written role in a film with a passion rare in the annals of British cinema."[11] In the process of gaining funding for The Music Lovers (1970) from United Artists, Russell explained it as "the story of a homosexual who marries a nymphomaniac",[12] the couple being the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Richard Chamberlain) and Antonina Miliukova played by Jackson. This film received mixed reviews in the U.S.: the anonymous reviewer in Variety wrote of the two principals "Their performances are more dramatically bombastic than sympathetic, or sometimes even believable".[13] Jackson was initially interested in the role of Sister Jeanne in The Devils (1971), Russell's next film, but turned it down after script rewrites and deciding that she did not wish to play a third neurotic character in a row.[14]
In order to play Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC's serial Elizabeth R (1971), Jackson had her head shaved. After the series was shown on PBS in the US, Jackson received two Emmy Awards for her performance. She also portrayed Queen Elizabeth in the film Mary, Queen of Scots, and gained a BAFTA for her role in John Schlesinger's Sunday Bloody Sunday (both 1971).[15] In that year British exhibitors voted her the 6th most popular star at the British box office,[16] and she appeared in a comedy sketch as Cleopatra for The Morecambe and Wise Show.
Filmmaker Melvin Frank saw her comedic potential, on the Morecambe and Wise Show and offered her the lead female role in his next project. She gained a second Academy Award for Best Actress for A Touch of Class (1973). She continued to work in the theatre, and returned to the RSC to play the lead role in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. A later film version directed by Nunn was released as Hedda (1975) for which Jackson was nominated for an Oscar.
For her appearance on The Muppet Show she told the producers that she would perform any material they liked; this turned out to be a role where she has a delusion that she is a pirate captain who hijacks the Muppet Theatre as her ship.

Later acting career[edit]

In 1985, she appeared on Broadway as Nina Leeds in a revival of Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude at the Nederlander Theatre in a production which had originated in London the previous year and ran for eight weeks.[3] John Beaufort for The Christian Science Monitor wrote: "Bravura is the inevitable word for Miss Jackson's display of feminine wiles and brilliant technique."[17] Frank Rich, in The New York Times thought Jackson, "with her helmet of hair and gashed features", when Leeds is a young woman, "looks like a cubist portrait of Louise Brooks", and later when the character has aged several decades, is "mesmerizing as a Zelda Fitzgeraldesque neurotic, a rotting and spiteful middle-aged matron and, finally, a spent, sphinx-like widow happily embracing extinction."[18] Herbert Wise directed a British television version of O'Neill's drama which was first broadcast in the US as part of PBS's American Playhouse in January 1988.[19]
In 1989, Jackson appeared in Ken Russell's The Rainbow, playing Anna Brangwen, mother of Gudrun, the part which had won her her first Academy Award twenty years earlier. Also in that year she played Martha in a Los Angeles production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Doolittle Theatre (now the Ricardo MontalbĆ”n Theatre). Directed by the playwright himself, this staging featured John Lithgow as George. Dan Sullivan in the Los Angeles Times wrote that Jackson and Lithgow performed "with the assurance of dedicated character assassins, not your hire-and-salary types" with the actors being able to display their character's capacity for antipathy.[20] Albee was disappointed with this production, pointing to Jackson whom he thought "had retreated back to the thing she can do very well, that ice cold performance. I don't know whether she got scared, but in rehearsal she was being Martha, and the closer we got to opening the less Martha she was!".[21]
She performed the lead role in Howard Barker's Scenes from an Execution as Galactia, a sixteenth century female Venetian artist, at the Almeida Theatre in 1990.[22] It was an adaptation of Barker's 1984 radio play in which Jackson had played the same role.[23]

Career in politics[edit]

Jackson retired from acting in order to stand for election to the House of Commons in the 1992 general election subsequently becoming the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate. Following a period as shadow minister for transport, following the 1997 general election, she was appointed as parliamentary under secretary of state (a junior minister) in the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair,[24] with responsibility for London Transport, a post from which she resigned in 1999 before an unsuccessful attempt to be nominated as the Labour Party candidate for the election of the first Mayor of London in 2000. In the 2005 general election, she received 14,615 votes, representing 38.29% of the votes cast in the constituency.
As a high profile backbencher she became a regular critic of Blair over his plans to introduce higher education tuition fees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. She also called for him to resign following the Judicial Enquiry by Lord Hutton in 2003 surrounding the reasons for going to war in Iraq and the death of government adviser Dr. David Kelly. Jackson was generally considered to be a traditional left-winger, often disagreeing with the dominant Blairite governing Third Way faction in the Labour Party.
By October 2005, her problems with Blair's leadership swelled to a point where she threatened to challenge the Prime Minister as a stalking horse candidate in a leadership contest if he did not stand down within a reasonable amount of time. On 31 October 2006, Jackson was one of 12 Labour MPs to back Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party's call for an inquiry into the Iraq War.[25]
Her constituency boundaries changed for the 2010 general election. The Gospel Oak and Highgate wards became part of Holborn & St Pancras, and the new Hampstead & Kilburn constituency switched into Brent to include Brondesbury, Kilburn and Queens Park wards (from the old Brent East and Brent South seats). On 6 May 2010, Jackson was elected as the MP for the new Hampstead and Kilburn constituency with a margin of 42 votes over Conservative Chris Philp with the Liberal Democrat candidate Edward Fordham less than a thousand votes behind them. She had the second closest result and second smallest majority of any MP in the 2010 election.
In June 2011, Jackson announced that, presuming the Parliament elected in 2010 lasts until 2015, she will not seek re-election. She explained "I will be almost 80 and by then it will be time for someone else to have a turn".[26]
In April 2013, Jackson gave a speech in parliament over discussion about the passing of Margaret Thatcher.[27] In a scathing speech criticising Thatcher's policies, she accused Thatcher of treating "vices as virtues" and stated that because of Thatcherism England was susceptible to unprecedented unemployment rates and homelessness.[28]

Personal life and honours[edit]

Jackson has a son, Dan Hodges, born in 1969 from her marriage to Roy Hodges; he is a Labour Party advisor and commentator,[29] and a well-known political blogger who describes himself as a "Blairite cuckoo".[30] She was five months pregnant when filming on Women in Love was completed.[31] Her marriage to Hodges lasted from 1958 until their divorce in 1976.[32]
In 1978, she was awarded a CBE.

Filmography[edit]

YearTitleRoleNotes
1956The Extra DayExtrauncredited
1957–1961ITV Play of the WeekJurywoman / Iris Jonesepisode: Doctor Everyman's Hour
episode: A Voice in Vision
1963This Sporting LifeSinger at Partyuncredited
Z-CarsWPC Fenley / Hospital Nurseepisode: By the Book
episode: Act of Vengeance
1967Half Hour StoryClaire Foleyepisode: Which of These Two Ladies Is He Married To?
Marat/SadeCharlotte Corday
1968Tell Me LiesGuest
NegativesVivien
1965–1968The Wednesday PlayJulie / Cathyepisode: Let's Murder Vivaldi
episode: Horror of Darkness
1969Women in LoveGudrun Brangwen(released on 25 March 1970 in U.S. theaters)
ITV Saturday Night TheatreMarina Palekepisode: Salve Regina
1970Play of the Monthepisode: Howards End
The Music LoversAntonina 'Nina' Milyukova
1971Sunday Bloody SundayAlex Greville
The Boy FriendRitauncredited
Elizabeth RQueen Elizabeth I
Mary, Queen of ScotsQueen Elizabeth I
1972The Triple EchoAlice
1973A Touch of ClassVicki Allessio
A Bequest to the NationLady Hamilton
1974The Devil Is a WomanSister Geraldine
1975The Romantic EnglishwomanElizabeth Fielding
The MaidsSolange
HeddaHedda Gabler
1976The Incredible SarahSarah BernhardtNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
1977Nasty HabitsSister Alexandra
1978House CallsAnn Atkinson
StevieStevie Smith
1979The Class of Miss MacMichaelConor MacMichael
Lost and FoundTricia
1980HopscotchIsobel
HealthIsabella Garnell
The Morecambe and Wise ShowWoman Kissed by Ericepisode: 1980 Christmas Show
1981The Patricia Neal StoryPatricia Neal
1982The Return of the SoldierMargaret Grey
Giro CitySophie
1984Sakharov (film)Yelena Bonner (Sakharova)
1985Turtle DiaryNeaera Duncan
1987Beyond TherapyCharlotte
1988Business as UsualBabs Flynn
American PlayhouseNina Leedsepisode: Strange Interlude
Salome's Last DanceHerodias / Lady Alice
1989The RainbowAnna Brangwen
DoombeachMiss
1990Kings of the Wind (film)Queen Caroline
T-Bag's Christmas Ding DongVanity Bag
The Real Story of Humpty DumptyGlitch the Witch(voice)
1991The House of Bernarda AlbaBernarda AlbaTV movie
A Murder of QualityAilsa BrimleyTV movie
1992The Secret Life of Arnold BaxHarriet CohenTV movie

Awards[edit]

1976: Nominated Best Actress in a Leading Role – Hedda

References[edit]

  1. Jump up ^ "Glenda Jackson". The Film Programme. 6 July 2007. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. Jump up ^ Andy Bloxom (7 May 2010). "General Election 2010: the 10 closest battles". The Telegraph (London: telegraph.co). Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Andrea Chambers "With More Than a Touch of Sass and Stamina, Glenda Jackson Enjoys Her Strange Interlude Oh Broadway", People, 23:11, 18 March 1985
  4. Jump up ^ Jennifer Uglow, et al. The Macmillan Dictionary of Women's Biography. London: Macmillan, 1999, p. 276 (US: Boston: Northeastern University Press)
  5. Jump up ^ D. Keith Peacock "Jackson, Glenda [May]" in Colin Chambers (ed) The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre, London: Continuum, 2002 [2005], p.398
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Glenda Jackson (1936- )", in Who's Who in the Twentieth Century, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999 ISBN 9780192800916
  7. Jump up ^ David Edgar "The best performance I've ever seen", The Guardian, 18 July 2010
  8. Jump up ^ "Hamlet: Past Productions: On the RSC stage - 1965", BBC
  9. Jump up ^ Penelope Gilliatt "Making Sunday Bloody Sunday", The Criterion Collection, reprint of Gilliatt's introduction to the US publication of the script (1971).
  10. Jump up ^ "Peter Brook Returns to the RSC to Host a Theatre of Protest Event", RSC, October 2011. A documentary of the stage production also exists, see Stuart Heaney "Benefit of the Doubt (1967)", BFI screenonline
  11. Jump up ^ Brian McFarlane (ed.) The Encyclopedia of British Film, London: Methuen/BFI, 2003, p.339; "Jackson, Glenda (1936-)", BFI screenonline
  12. Jump up ^ David Del Valle "Camp David June 2012: Tchiakovsky is Just Not That Into You", Films in Review, 20 June 2012
  13. Jump up ^ "Review: The Music Lovers", Variety, 31 December 1970
  14. Jump up ^ Richard Crouse Raising Hell: Ken Russell and the Unmaking of The Devils, ECW Press, 2012, p.47-48
  15. Jump up ^ "Film: Actress in 1972", BAFTA
  16. Jump up ^ Peter Waymark. "Richard Burton top draw in British cinemas." The Times [London] 30 December 1971: 2. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
  17. Jump up ^ John Beaufort "Lively revival of O'Neill's stormy Strange Interlude", Christian Science Monitor, 26 February 1985
  18. Jump up ^ Frank Rich "Theater: A Fresh Look for O'Neill's Interlude", New York Times, 22 February 1985
  19. Jump up ^ John J. O'Connor " TV Reviews; Glenda Jackson in 'Strange Interlude'", New York Times, 18 January 1988
  20. Jump up ^ Dan Sullivan "Stage Review: A Lower-Key George and Martha", Los Angeles Times, 6 October 1989
  21. Jump up ^ Stephen J. Bottoms Albee: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000, p.67-68
  22. Jump up ^ Matt Wolf "Theater; A New London Theater Team Is Attracting Stars", New York Times, 11 March 1990
  23. Jump up ^ Jane Milling Modern British Playwriting: The 1980s: Voices, Documents, New Interpretations, A & C Black, 2012, p.30
  24. Jump up ^ "Ms Glenda Jackson, CBE, MP Authorised Biography", Debrett's
  25. Jump up ^ "Labour MPs who rebelled on Iraq". BBC News. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-31.
  26. Jump up ^ Graham, Georgia (23 June 2011). "Glenda Jackson won’t stand in next election". Ham & High.
  27. Jump up ^ "Glenda Jackson criticises Margaret Thatcher in Commons debate - video". The Guardian (London). 11 April 2013.
  28. Jump up ^ "Labour MP Glenda Jackson shatters the love during parliament tributes". The Australian. 12 April 2013.
  29. Jump up ^ Ian Hall (28 February 2003). "Profile: Dan Hodges, Freedom To Fly". PR Week (prweek.com). Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  30. Jump up ^ "Dan Hodges". The Daily Telegraph (London).
  31. Jump up ^ "Biography for Glenda Jackson". imdb.com. Retrieved 2011-11-04.
  32. Jump up ^ "Milestones". Time (Time.com). 9 February 1976. Retrieved 2011-11-04.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Glenda Jackson.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Geoffrey Finsberg		Member of Parliament
for Hampstead and Highgate
1992–2010		Constituency abolished
New constituencyMember of Parliament
for Hampstead and Kilburn
2010–2015		Succeeded by
Tulip Siddiq
Authority control