Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Glenda Jackson

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Glenda Jackson made an impact.

Glenda Jackson (1936-2023) was a celebrated English actress and Labour Party politician. She achieved EGOT status and earned two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award for her acting career. Simultaneously, Jackson served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for 23 years, representing Hampstead and Highgate (1992-2010) and later Hampstead and Kilburn (2010-2015). She balanced her successful acting career with dedicated political service.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

October 1974: Supported Women's Rights candidacy

In October 1974, Glenda Jackson supported Una Kroll's Women's Rights candidacy for Sutton and Cheam in the United Kingdom general election.

1975: Starred in The Romantic Englishwoman

In 1975, Glenda Jackson starred in The Romantic Englishwoman alongside Michael Caine.

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1978: Sponsored Anti-Nazi League and appeared in Oxfam advertisement

In 1978, Glenda Jackson sponsored the Anti-Nazi League and appeared in a print advertisement for Oxfam.

1979: Was approached to stand at the general election

In 1979, Glenda Jackson was approached by a Constituency Labour Party (CLP) in Bristol to stand at the general election, but this did not happen.

1983: Turned down the chance to be a candidate

In 1983, Glenda Jackson turned down an approach to be a candidate for the marginal Welsh seat of Bridgend to pursue a humanities degree at Thames Polytechnic. She dropped out before starting the course. She supported Paul Boateng and Ian Wilson, Labour's candidates for Hertfordshire West and Watford.

November 1984: Appeared in Phedra at The Old Vic

In November 1984, Glenda Jackson played the title role in Robert David MacDonald's translation of Racine's "Phèdre", titled "Phedra", at The Old Vic. Her performance was praised for its jagged and hoarse intensity, depicting the queen's torment. The costume worn by Jackson in the play is housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

1984: Radio play of Scenes from an Execution

In 1984 Glenda Jackson played the role of Galactia in the radio play "Scenes from an Execution".

1986: Visited Ethiopia with Oxfam

In 1986, Glenda Jackson visited Ethiopia as part of Oxfam's efforts to help with the famine.

February 1987: Appeared in a party political broadcast for Labour

In February 1987, Glenda Jackson appeared in a party political broadcast for Labour.

September 1988: Chaired a United Nations committee on the cultural boycott

In September 1988, Glenda Jackson chaired a United Nations committee on the cultural boycott.

December 1989: Rumored to be approached by Leeds East CLP

In December 1989, it was rumored that Glenda Jackson had been approached by two branches of Leeds East CLP to succeed their Labour MP, Denis Healey, but she turned down the opportunity.

1989: Appeared in Ken Russell's The Rainbow and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

In 1989, Glenda Jackson appeared as Anna Brangwen in Ken Russell's film "The Rainbow". The same year, she played Martha in Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" in Los Angeles, directed by Albee himself. While critics praised her performance alongside John Lithgow, Albee expressed disappointment, feeling she didn't fully embody the character of Martha.

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1989: Approached Voluntary Service Overseas

In 1989, Glenda Jackson approached Voluntary Service Overseas about the chance of working in Africa for a couple of years.

March 1990: Won the ballot for Hampstead and Highgate CLP

On 28 March 1990, Glenda Jackson won the ballot for Hampstead and Highgate CLP, defeating Kate Allen, Sarah Palmer, and Maureen Robinson.

1990: Performed in Howard Barker's Scenes from an Execution

In 1990, Glenda Jackson played Galactia, a sixteenth-century female Venetian artist, in Howard Barker's "Scenes from an Execution" at the Almeida Theatre. This was an adaptation of Barker's 1984 radio play in which Jackson had previously played the same role.

1991: Retired from acting to devote herself to politics

In 1991, Glenda Jackson retired from acting to focus on politics full-time as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Highgate.

1992: Gained the seat for Hampstead and Highgate

In 1992, Glenda Jackson gained the parliamentary seat for Hampstead and Highgate, narrowly beating the Conservative candidate Oliver Letwin. She was sponsored by the train drivers' union, ASLEF.

July 1996: Became shadow transport minister

In July 1996, Glenda Jackson became shadow transport minister.

1997: Re-elected and appointed junior minister

Following Labour's victory in the 1997 general election, Glenda Jackson was re-elected and appointed as a junior minister in Tony Blair's government, with responsibility for London Regional Transport.

1997: Received an absolute majority

In 1997, Glenda Jackson received an absolute majority of votes cast in her constituency, which was the only occasion she achieved this.

1999: Resigned from her post

In 1999, Glenda Jackson resigned from her post as junior minister in London Regional Transport.

2000: Unsuccessful attempt to be nominated as Labour candidate for mayor of London

In 2000, Glenda Jackson unsuccessfully attempted to be nominated as the Labour candidate for the election of the first mayor of London, coming third behind Frank Dobson and Ken Livingstone.

2001: Re-elected to represent her constituency

In 2001, Glenda Jackson was re-elected to represent her constituency at the general election.

May 2010: Elected as MP for Hampstead and Kilburn

In May 2010, Glenda Jackson was elected as the MP for the new Hampstead and Kilburn constituency with a narrow margin of 42 votes.

June 2011: Announcement not seeking re-election

In June 2011, Glenda Jackson announced she would not seek re-election in 2015.

April 2013: Speech on Margaret Thatcher's death

In April 2013, Glenda Jackson delivered a speech in the House of Commons following Margaret Thatcher's death, criticizing Thatcherism.

June 2014: Assessment of Iain Duncan Smith's tenure

In June 2014, Glenda Jackson gave a scathing assessment of Iain Duncan Smith's tenure as Work and Pensions Secretary.

November 2015: Returned to acting in Blood, Sex and Money on Radio 4

In November 2015, Glenda Jackson returned to acting after a 23-year absence, playing Dide in "Blood, Sex and Money", a radio drama series on Radio 4 based on Émile Zola's Les Rougon-Macquart series. The series aired until October 2016.

2015: End of parliamentary term

Glenda Jackson's parliamentary term, which began in 2010, ended two days before her 79th birthday in 2015.

October 2016: King Lear at the Old Vic Theatre

In October 2016, Glenda Jackson returned to the stage, playing the title role in William Shakespeare's "King Lear" at the Old Vic Theatre in London, in a production running from 25 October to 3 December.

2018: Returned to Broadway in Three Tall Women

In 2018, Glenda Jackson returned to Broadway in a revival of Edward Albee's "Three Tall Women", acting alongside Laurie Metcalf and Allison Pill, and won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role.

April 2019: Returned to the title role of King Lear on Broadway

In April 2019, Glenda Jackson returned to the title role of "King Lear" on Broadway.

2019: Returned to television drama with Elizabeth is Missing

In 2019, after a 27-year absence, Glenda Jackson returned to television drama, portraying an elderly grandmother struggling with dementia in "Elizabeth Is Missing" on BBC One, based on the novel of the same name by Emma Healey. She won the BAFTA TV Award and International Emmy Award for Best Actress for this role.

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February 2020: Starred in Fault Lines: Money, Sex and Blood

In February 2020, Glenda Jackson starred in the lead role of Constance Sterling in the radio drama series "Fault Lines: Money, Sex and Blood" for Radio 4.

February 2021: Starred in The Great Escaper

In February 2021, it was announced that Glenda Jackson would star alongside Michael Caine in "The Great Escaper", a film based on the true story of Bernard Jordan.

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January 2022: Continued starring in Fault Lines: Money, Sex and Blood

In January 2022, Glenda Jackson continued starring in the lead role of Constance Sterling in the radio drama series "Fault Lines: Money, Sex and Blood" for Radio 4.