Glenda Jackson, from famous actress to political fighter

Posted On: June 15, 2023

This content was published on June 15, 2023 – 10:58

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London, Jun 15 (EFE) Labor and are part of the Tony Blair Government.

Jackson is remembered for such films as “A touch of class” (1973), with George Segal, or “Women in love” (1970), as well as the incarnation of Queen Elizabeth I of England who was famous in the British television series BBC broadcast in 1971 .

For her performances in these two films, she was awarded two Oscars for best actress.

A staunch defender of human rights, especially women’s, including access to abortion, Jackson was sensitive to the social issues of Great Britain, which led to her joining the Labor Party in the early 1950s.

FROM SIMPLE BEGINNINGS TO HOLLYWOOD SUCCESS

Born on May 9, 1936 in Birkenhead, in north west England, into a working family – his father was a bricklayer and his mother was a cleaner -, Jackson began working in a pharmacy until 1954 when he won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London .

In August 1958, Jackson married actor Roy Hodges, father of his son Daniel (1969), but the couple divorced in 1976.

His first works were in theater in 1957, such as “Split Tables”, by Terence Rattingan, to great reception from both the public and critics, but between 1958 and 1961 he was unable to find work, which led him to look for a variety of jobs. between them in the cafeteria and answering calls for theater agents.

Later he did various plays in theatre, such as in the plays US (1966), at the Aldwych Theatre, and “Negatives” (1968).

For her performance as Queen Elizabeth I, the actress has been praised by critics as well as by historians, considering it the most accurate representation of the English queen.

After the series appeared on US television, Jackson won an Emmy Award. He also played a ruler in the film “Mary, Queen of Scots.”

Among other awards in her country, the actress was awarded a BAFTA for her performance in the film “Sunday Bloody Sunday” (1971), in which she played a divorced businesswoman who is in a relationship with a bisexual actress.

Director Melvin Frank was impressed by Jackson’s performance and cast him in the romantic comedy “A Touch of Class”, a film which became a hit in the US and UK, and years later he and Segal reunited on “Lost and Found”.

In 1978, Queen Elizabeth II appointed him Commander of the Order of the British Empire. That year he returned to comedy with “House Calls” (1978), in which he starred opposite Walter Matthau.

COMMITTED TO SOCIAL ISSUES

Despite his success in show business, Jackson has always maintained his commitment to social causes. In 1986 he visited Ethiopia as part of the humanitarian organization Oxfam’s efforts to help alleviate hunger in that country, while he was also involved in the anti-apartheid campaign in South Africa.

An ardent critic of the policies of former Conservative British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Jackson decided to retire from acting in 1991 to focus on politics.

A year later, he won a seat for the London constituency Hampstead & Kilburn in the British Parliament in a general election, where the Conservatives – then led by John Major – remained in power.

After Labor’s 1997 victory – led by Tony Blair – Jackson took a post at the Ministry of Transport as Undersecretary of Parliament, but resigned in 1999.

Over time, he criticized the Blair government for its plans to increase university tuition fees and in 2011 announced that he would not seek re-election in the 2015 election.

Thereafter he returned to acting, with successful performances on the Broadway stage and several brief appearances on television, although he was never quiet about his political opinions, such as when he gave his approval to the new Labor leader, Keir Starmer, but not before. offered him some advice. veteran translator: he should improve his voice. EFE

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