Glenda Jackson
Glenda Jackson
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Glenda Mary Jackson was a British actress, politician, and activist who used her platform to promote social justice.
Birth and Death Dates
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Glenda Jackson was born on May 9, 1930, in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England. She passed away on June 6, 2023, at the age of 93.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Jackson was a British national, holding dual citizenship with New Zealand (due to her husband's nationality). Throughout her career, she excelled as an actress in film and television, as well as a politician in the House of Commons.
Early Life and Background
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Glenda Jackson grew up in a working-class family. Her father was a merchant sailor, and her mother worked as a shop assistant. She began her education at Birkenhead High School for Girls before attending RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) to study acting. During World War II, Jackson moved with her family to New Zealand, where she attended the Dominion Road Primary School in Auckland.
Major Accomplishments
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As an actress, Glenda Jackson won two Academy Awards for Best Actress: A Touch of Class (1973) and A Leap in the Dark (1988). She received numerous Golden Globe nominations throughout her career. In politics, Jackson served as a Labour Member of Parliament from 1992 to 2015, focusing on issues such as women's rights, education, and healthcare.
Notable Works or Actions
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Jackson's acting credits include notable films like Sunday, Bloody Sunday (1971), A Touch of Class (1973), and Scoop (1989). Her television appearances include the BBC series The Glittering Prizes (1976) and the ITV drama Blakes 7 (1984). As a politician, she was an active advocate for women's rights and the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Impact and Legacy
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Glenda Jackson left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry as well as British politics. Her advocacy for social justice issues continues to inspire new generations of activists and politicians. She remains widely quoted and remembered for her dedication to these causes, as well as her impressive acting career.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Glenda Jackson's quotes often reflect her strong convictions on women's rights and the importance of education. For example, in a 2015 interview with The Guardian, she stated: "I think that if I had been born a man, I would probably have become an MP much earlier." This quote highlights her commitment to promoting equality and challenging social norms.
Throughout her remarkable life, Glenda Jackson used her platform to promote positive change. Her legacy serves as a testament to the power of determination and conviction in shaping society.
Quotes by Glenda Jackson
Everything I had been taught to regard as a vice - and I still regard them as vices - under Thatcherism was in fact a virtue: Greed, selfishness, no care for the weaker, sharp elbows, sharp knees.
When I was feeding myself by being a professional actress, I never got a good notice in the 'Evening Standard.' And when I changed direction and became a Labour MP, I was the wrong political party for the 'Evening Standard.'
I was blessed by my parents and my antecedents by a very strong work ethic. I mean, being a Member of Parliament is 24/7, just as much as when you're actually doing a play. It's not quite 24/7, but it's the work that counts.
You can go onto that stage every night, and it's always the equivalent of going onto the topmost diving board, and you don't know if there's any water in the pool.
The best teacher is an audience. The ideal performance is when that group of strangers sitting in the dark gets energy from the group in the light and sends energy back to us. When it really works, a perfect circle is formed.
You don't do a play to compete for an award. This was the argument I always had over the Oscars. I didn't win them. They were given to me. All I did was 2 films. People always say the analogy is Olympic gold medals.
My life was transformed by the Labour government of 1945. It was transformative for millions of people like me, you know - education, the health service. It was proof that politics can make life better for people; that a social dream can become a social reality by the power of government.