Double Oscar-winning veteran actress and former politician Glenda Jackson has “died peacefully” after a brief illness at the age of 87, her agent has confirmed. The screen star and former Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate won the Oscar for best actress in 1970 for Women In Love and again three years later for A Touch Of Class – although opted not to attend the ceremony on either occasion.
Her agent Lionel Larner said: “Glenda Jackson, two-time Academy Award winning actress and politician died peacefully at her home in Blackheath London this morning after a brief illness with her family at her side. She recently completed filming The Great Escaper in which she co-starred with Michael Caine.”
Despite her successful career, which also included two Emmy Awards and a Tony, Jackson previously said she never had any interest in the social and glamorous aspects of the industry.
The double Oscar-winner gave up acting for politics more than a quarter of a century ago and served as a Labour MP for 23 years. In 1992 she was elected as the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate and served as a junior transport minister from 1997 to 1999 during Sir Tony Blair’s government.
Jackson stood down as an MP at the 2015 general election and returned to acting. She won a Bafta for best actress in 2019 for her role in Elizabeth Is Missing, which followed the story of a woman suffering from dementia.
She had just finished filming The Great Escaper alongside fellow double Oscar-winner Sir Michael Caine, who she had last acted with 48 years ago in The Romantic Englishwoman. Their new film tells a story, inspired by true events, of a Second World War veteran who escaped his care home in Hove, East Sussex, to attend a commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France.
In previous interviews Jackson said she only started acting after she failed her school certificate, leaving her with no option but to start working at the age of 16.
After joining a friend at the YMCA amateur dramatics society while she was working at her local Boots store, she went on to study at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada). She also played Egyptian queen Cleopatra in 1971 for an episode of The Morecambe & Wise Show with comedy duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.
Speaking to the Radio Times about working with the late duo, whose popular show consisted of a mixture of sketches and stand-up comedy, Jackson said: “Oh, I loved working with them.
“I found it extremely difficult to restrain my laughter when we were doing Cleopatra.”
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Tributes began to flood in from the world of showbiz and beyond today as a host of well-known figures shared their thoughts on the remarkable actress and campaigner.
Comedia David Baddiel tweeted: “I know she achieved extraordinary heights in many fields, but the thing I will always love Glenda Jackson for is unironically saying in a radio interview that she felt the height of her acting career was performing with Morecambe And Wise.”
Dianne Abbott MP shared her thoughts on the death of a former political colleague, she posted: “Very sad to hear of the death of Glenda Jackson. I served alongside her in Parliament for many years. She was a kind and extremely principled woman.”
TV host Carol Vorderman added her voice to those honouring Jackson, posting the actress was part of her “growing up years”.
She wrote: “Watching the Oscar winning actress Glenda Jackson be her extraordinary self. And then to see this unique woman turn into a firebrand in politics was deeply impressive for young girls like me. May she Rest In Peace.”
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Tulip Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, which was Jackson’s constituency from 2010 to 2015 after she previously held the old seat of Hampstead and Highgate from 1992 to 2010, paid tribute to her predecessor as a “very supportive mentor” and “formidable politician”.
She tweeted: “Devastated to hear that my predecessor Glenda Jackson has died.
“A formidable politician, an amazing actress and a very supportive mentor to me. Hampstead and Kilburn will miss you Glenda.”
Former Conservative MP Gyles Brandreth spoke of a friendship forged across the political divide, writing: “A wonderful actress, a committed politician, a remarkable human being – we became MPs on the same day in 1992 and I treasure our unlikely friendship.
“She was such a gifted, caring & special person who came into the world to make a difference – and did. RIP the unique Glenda Jackson.”
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