History of Glenda Jackson in Timeline
"Glenda Jackson was a highly celebrated English actress and politician. In her acting career, she earned two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award. As a Labour Party member, she served as a Member of Parliament for 23 years, representing Hampstead and Highgate, and later Hampstead and Kilburn."
May 1936: Birth of Glenda Jackson
Glenda May Jackson was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, in May 1936.
May 1936: Birth of Glenda Jackson
Glenda May Jackson was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, in May 1936.
1952: First acting appearance
Glenda Jackson made her first acting appearance in "Mystery of Greenfingers" in 1952.
1954: Awarded scholarship to RADA
In 1954, Glenda Jackson received a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
1955: Began studies at RADA
Glenda Jackson moved to London and began her studies at RADA in early 1955.
January 1957: Professional stage debut
January 1957 marked Glenda Jackson's professional stage debut in "Doctor in the House" at the Connaught Theatre in Worthing.
1957: Meets Roy Hodges
Jackson first crossed paths with Roy Hodges, a stage manager and fellow actor, in 1957 while working at a repertory theatre company.
August 1958: Marries Roy Hodges
Glenda Jackson and Roy Hodges wed on August 2, 1958, at St Marylebone Register Office in London.
1958: Struggled to find acting work
From 1958, Glenda Jackson faced difficulties finding acting work, leading to a period of odd jobs.
1961: Returned to acting after hiatus
In 1961, Glenda Jackson returned to repertory theatre in Dundee after a period of struggling to find acting work.
1963: Film debut and joined RSC
Glenda Jackson made her film debut in "This Sporting Life" and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in 1963.
1965: Starred in "Marat/Sade"
Glenda Jackson played the role of Charlotte Corday in the RSC's production of "Marat/Sade" in 1965.
1966: Starred in "US" and "Tell Me Lies"
Glenda Jackson appeared in the play and film versions of "US", a protest against the Vietnam War, in 1966.
1966: Broadway debut in "Marat/Sade"
Glenda Jackson made her Broadway debut in the play "Marat/Sade" in 1966.
1967: Appeared in film version of "Marat/Sade"
Glenda Jackson appeared in the 1967 film version of "Marat/Sade".
1968: Starred in "Negatives"
In 1968, Glenda Jackson starred in the psychological drama "Negatives".
1969: Starred in "Women in Love"
Glenda Jackson's performance in the film adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's "Women in Love" in 1969 earned her critical acclaim.
1969: Birth of Son, Daniel
Daniel Pearce Jackson Hodges, Jackson's son, was born in 1969.
1969: Won first Academy Award for Best Actress
Glenda Jackson received her first Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "Women in Love" in 1969.
1970: Finsberg's Election Win
Geoffrey Finsberg, a Conservative, won the Hampstead seat (later Hampstead and Highgate) in the 1970 general election, taking it from Labour.
1970: Starred in "The Music Lovers"
Glenda Jackson took on the role of Antonina Miliukova in Ken Russell's "The Music Lovers" in 1970.
March 1971: "The Music Lovers" topped UK box office
"The Music Lovers", starring Glenda Jackson, reached the top of the UK box office charts in March 1971.
December 1971: Mary, Queen of Scots Premiere
In December 1971, the film Mary, Queen of Scots, in which Glenda Jackson played Queen Elizabeth I, premiered in Los Angeles.
1971: Won BAFTA Award for Best Actress
Her role in "Sunday Bloody Sunday" earned Glenda Jackson the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role in 1971.
1972: Mary, Queen of Scots Royal Film Performance
In 1972, Mary, Queen of Scots was the Royal Film Performance in Britain, attended by the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon.
June 1973: A Touch of Class UK Box-Office Success
In June 1973, the romantic comedy A Touch of Class, starring Glenda Jackson and George Segal, became a box-office hit, reaching No. 1 in the UK.
1973: Won second Academy Award for Best Actress
Glenda Jackson was awarded her second Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in "A Touch of Class" in 1973.
February 1974: Academy Award for Best Actress
Glenda Jackson won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in A Touch of Class in February 1974.
October 1974: Support for Women's Rights
Glenda Jackson actively supported the National Abortion Campaign and Una Kroll's Women's Rights candidacy in the October 1974 UK general election.
1975: Hedda Release and Oscar Nomination
The film adaptation of Hedda Gabler, titled Hedda, was released in 1975, and Glenda Jackson received an Oscar nomination for her performance as the title character.
1975: Votes Against EEC Membership
In the 1975 UK European Communities membership referendum, Jackson voted against Britain remaining in the European Economic Community.
1975: Starred in "Hedda"
Glenda Jackson appeared in the film "Hedda" in 1975.
1975: Begins Affair with Andy Phillips
By 1975, Jackson's marriage faced difficulties, leading to an affair with Andy Phillips, a lighting director she worked with.
1975: Variety Club of Great Britain Award
Glenda Jackson received the Best Film Actress award from the Variety Club of Great Britain in 1975.
1975: "The Romantic Englishwoman"
Glenda Jackson and Michael Caine previously starred together in the 1975 film "The Romantic Englishwoman".
1976: Divorces Roy Hodges
Hodges filed for divorce from Jackson in 1975 on grounds of adultery, finalizing their separation in 1976.
1976: Starred in "The Incredible Sarah"
In 1976, Glenda Jackson starred in the film "The Incredible Sarah".
1977: Nominated for Laurence Olivier Award for "Stevie"
Glenda Jackson received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her West End performance in "Stevie" in 1977.
1978: House Calls Box-Office Success and CBE Award
Glenda Jackson achieved box office success in the United States with the romantic comedy House Calls, co-starring Walter Matthau, in 1978. The film topped the US box-office rankings for two weeks. In the same year, she was awarded a CBE.
1978: Starred in "House Calls" and "Stevie"
Glenda Jackson appeared in the films "House Calls" and "Stevie" in 1978.
1978: Variety Club of Great Britain Award
Glenda Jackson received the Best Film Actress award from the Variety Club of Great Britain for the second time in 1978.
1978: Activism and Advocacy
In 1978, Glenda Jackson became a sponsor of the Anti-Nazi League and appeared in an advertisement for Oxfam. She advocated for various causes including housing, human rights, and children's charities.
1979: Social Science Studies
Glenda Jackson briefly pursued a social science degree at the Open University in 1979, but she left the program after a few months.
1979: Lost and Found Release
Glenda Jackson reunited with George Segal and Melvin Frank for the romantic comedy Lost and Found in 1979.
1979: Consideration for Bristol Candidacy
Glenda Jackson was approached by a Constituency Labour Party (CLP) in Bristol to stand as a candidate in the 1979 general election, but this did not come to fruition.
1979: Nominated for Laurence Olivier Award for "Antony and Cleopatra"
In 1979, Glenda Jackson was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her role in "Antony and Cleopatra" in the West End.
1980: Hopscotch Box-Office Debut
The comedy Hopscotch, starring Glenda Jackson and Walter Matthau, debuted at No. 1 in its opening weekend at the US box office in 1980.
1980: Starred in "Hopscotch"
Glenda Jackson starred in the film "Hopscotch" in 1980.
1980: Nominated for Laurence Olivier Award for "Rose"
Her West End performance in "Rose" earned Glenda Jackson a Laurence Olivier Award nomination in 1980.
1980: The Muppet Show Appearance
Glenda Jackson made a memorable appearance on The Muppet Show in 1980, playing the role of a pirate captain who takes over the Muppet Theatre.
1981: Blood Transfusion Service Film
Glenda Jackson and Ernie Wise appeared together in an information film for the Blood Transfusion Service in 1981.
1981: Broadway Return in Rose
Glenda Jackson returned to Broadway in Andrew Davies's Rose opposite Jessica Tandy in 1981. Both actresses received Tony nominations for their roles.
1981: Nominated for Tony Award for "Rose"
Glenda Jackson was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway production of "Rose" in 1981.
1981: Relationship with Phillips Ends
Jackson's on-off relationship with Andy Phillips eventually concluded in 1981.
September 1983: The Glenda Jackson Theatre Opening
The Glenda Jackson Theatre in Birkenhead was named in her honor in September 1983. The theatre was attached to Wirral Metropolitan College.
1983: Declining Bridgend Candidacy
In 1983, Glenda Jackson was asked about the possibility of standing as a Labour candidate for the Bridgend seat in the general election, but she chose to pursue a humanities degree instead.
November 1984: Phedra at The Old Vic
In November 1984, Glenda Jackson starred in the title role of Robert David MacDonald's English translation of Racine's Phèdre, titled Phedra, at The Old Vic. The play was designed and directed by Philip Prowse, with Robert Eddison playing Theramenes.
1984: Nominated for Laurence Olivier Award for "Strange Interlude"
Glenda Jackson was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her role in the West End production of "Strange Interlude" in 1984.
1984: Scenes from an Execution Radio Play
Glenda Jackson performed in the radio play version of Howard Barker's Scenes from an Execution in 1984, taking on the role of Galactia.
1985: Sends Congratulatory Telegram to Neil Kinnock
After Neil Kinnock's notable 1985 Labour Party conference speech where he challenged Militant tendency, Jackson sent him a congratulatory telegram, distancing herself from their politics.
1985: Strange Interlude Revival
Glenda Jackson played Nina Leeds in a revival of Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude at the Nederlander Theatre in 1985. The production originated in London the previous year and ran for eight weeks.
1985: Nominated for Tony Award for "Strange Interlude"
Her Broadway performance in "Strange Interlude" earned Glenda Jackson a Tony Award nomination in 1985.
1986: Oxfam Visit to Ethiopia
Glenda Jackson travelled to Ethiopia in 1986 as part of Oxfam's famine relief efforts.
February 1987: Labour Party Political Broadcast
Glenda Jackson appeared in a party political broadcast for the Labour Party in February 1987.
September 1988: Chairing UN Committee
Glenda Jackson chaired a United Nations committee on the cultural boycott of South Africa in September 1988.
1988: Nominated for Tony Award for "Macbeth"
In 1988, Glenda Jackson received a Tony Award nomination for her role in the Broadway production of "Macbeth".
1988: Strange Interlude Television Broadcast
The stage production of Strange Interlude, directed by Herbert Wise and featuring Glenda Jackson as Nina Leeds, was adapted for television and broadcast in the US as part of PBS's American Playhouse in 1988.
December 1989: Potential Candidacy in Leeds East
There were rumors in December 1989 that Glenda Jackson had been approached to potentially succeed Denis Healey as the Labour MP for Leeds East.
1989: Interest in Working with VSO
In 1989, Glenda Jackson explored the possibility of working in Africa with Voluntary Service Overseas for a couple of years.
1989: The Rainbow and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Glenda Jackson appeared in two notable productions in 1989: Ken Russell's The Rainbow, where she played Anna Brangwen, and Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Doolittle Theatre in Los Angeles, where she played Martha opposite John Lithgow's George.
March 1990: Winning Hampstead and Highgate Selection
Glenda Jackson was approached to stand as a Labour candidate for Hampstead and Highgate in late 1989 and won the ballot on March 28, 1990.
November 1990: Thatcher's Resignation
Margaret Thatcher stepped down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party in November 1990 and was succeeded by John Major.
1990: Scenes from an Execution at the Almeida Theatre
Glenda Jackson starred as Galactia, a sixteenth-century female Venetian artist, in Howard Barker's Scenes from an Execution at the Almeida Theatre in 1990. This was an adaptation of Barker's 1984 radio play, in which Jackson had also played the same role.
1991: Retirement from Acting
Glenda Jackson retired from acting in 1991 to focus on her political career as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Hampstead and Highgate.
1992: Recalls Unwelcoming Parliament for Women
Also in July 2022, Jackson reflected on her early days in Parliament, noting that it wasn't a welcoming environment for women when she was elected in 1992.
1992: Elected as MP for Hampstead and Highgate
Glenda Jackson began her political career in 1992 when she was elected MP for Hampstead and Highgate.
1992: Elected as MP for Hampstead and Highgate
Glenda Jackson was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Hampstead and Highgate in 1992.
1992: Winning Hampstead and Highgate Seat
In the 1992 general election, Glenda Jackson won the Hampstead and Highgate seat, defeating Conservative candidate Oliver Letwin.
1992: Supports John Smith in Leadership Election
Jackson aligned herself with John Smith in the 1992 Labour Party leadership election, who emerged as the successful candidate.
1994: Backs Tony Blair as Leader
In the 1994 leadership election, Jackson threw her support behind Tony Blair, who ultimately won and later became prime minister.
July 1996: Shadow Transport Minister
In July 1996, Glenda Jackson was appointed shadow transport minister, making her the first of Labour's 1992 intake to join the front bench.
1997: Only Absolute Majority Win
The 1997 election marked the only time Jackson received an absolute majority of votes in her constituency throughout her political career.
1997: Junior Minister Appointment
Following Labour's 1997 general election victory, Glenda Jackson was appointed a junior minister in Tony Blair's government, with responsibilities in London Regional Transport.
1997: Appointed junior transport minister
In 1997, Glenda Jackson was appointed junior transport minister in the first Blair ministry.
1999: Concluded role as junior transport minister
Glenda Jackson finished her term as junior transport minister in 1999.
1999: Resignation from Government
Glenda Jackson resigned from her junior minister position in 1999.
2000: Mayoral Selection Bid
Glenda Jackson unsuccessfully sought the Labour nomination for the 2000 London mayoral election, coming in third place behind Frank Dobson and Ken Livingstone.
2001: Re-election to Parliament
Glenda Jackson was re-elected to represent her constituency in the 2001 general election.
2003: Criticizes Blair Over Iraq War
Following the Hutton Inquiry in 2003, Jackson called for Blair's resignation over the handling of the Iraq War and the death of David Kelly.
October 2005: Threatens Blair with Leadership Challenge
By October 2005, Glenda Jackson's disagreements with Tony Blair's leadership grew so strong that she threatened to challenge him as a leadership candidate if he didn't step down.
2005: The Glenda Jackson Theatre Demolition
The Glenda Jackson Theatre was demolished in 2005 following the establishment of a purpose-built site for students at Wirral Metropolitan College.
October 2006: Backs Inquiry into Iraq War
On October 31, 2006, Jackson joined 12 Labour MPs in supporting a call for an inquiry into the Iraq War.
2008: Voices Support for Gordon Brown
Jackson expressed her support for Gordon Brown's leadership as prime minister in 2008.
May 2010: Elected as MP for Hampstead and Kilburn
On May 6, 2010, Jackson narrowly won the election for the new Hampstead and Kilburn constituency, securing the seat by a margin of 42 votes.
2010: Votes for David Miliband
In the 2010 leadership election following Brown's resignation, Jackson voted for David Miliband, perceived as more moderate than his brother Ed.
2010: Won narrow victory in general election
In the 2010 general election, Glenda Jackson won by a narrow margin of 42 votes, the smallest victory in Great Britain.
2010: Became MP for Hampstead and Kilburn
Following boundary changes, Glenda Jackson became the MP for Hampstead and Kilburn in 2010.
June 2011: Announces Decision to Stand Down
In June 2011, Jackson shared her decision not to seek re-election in 2015, stating that she would be nearing 80 years old.
April 2012: Expenses Controversy
In April 2012, reports emerged about Jackson's parliamentary expenses, revealing she claimed £136,793 in 2007–2008 despite low attendance and speaking engagements, leading to an £8,000 repayment for wrongly claimed expenses.
April 2013: Delivers Viral Speech on Thatcher's Legacy
On April 10, 2013, Jackson delivered a widely shared speech in Parliament following Margaret Thatcher's death, criticizing Thatcherism for its impact on unemployment, homelessness, and public services.
June 2014: Criticizes Iain Duncan Smith
In June 2014, Jackson made headlines with a scathing critique of Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, holding him responsible for the "destruction of the welfare state" and criticizing his department's competence.
2015: Return to Acting in Blood, Sex and Money
After a 23-year hiatus from acting due to her political career, Glenda Jackson returned to the field in 2015. She took on the role of Dide, the ancient matriarch, in a series of Radio 4 plays titled Blood, Sex and Money, based on the novels by Émile Zola.
2015: Expresses Mixed Views on Jeremy Corbyn
After leaving Parliament, Jackson revealed she supported Jeremy Corbyn "as a person" and would have nominated him in the 2015 leadership election but wouldn't have voted for him.
2015: Stepped down as MP
Glenda Jackson concluded her time as an MP in 2015.
2015: Retired from politics
Glenda Jackson retired from politics and returned to acting in 2015.
2016: Supports Remain in Brexit Referendum
Despite her earlier stance, Jackson supported remaining in the European Union during the 2016 Brexit referendum.
2016: Returned to acting in "King Lear"
Glenda Jackson returned to acting after a 25-year hiatus, taking on the role of King Lear in a West End production in 2016, for which she received a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.
2016: King Lear at the Old Vic Theatre
In late 2016, Glenda Jackson made a highly anticipated return to the stage, playing the title role in William Shakespeare's King Lear at the Old Vic Theatre in London. The production ran from October 25th to December 3rd.
2016: Reported as "Happily Single"
Reports in 2016 described Jackson as having been "happily single for decades."
2017: Evening Standard Theatre Award Win
Glenda Jackson won the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress at the 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her performance as King Lear.
2018: Three Tall Women Revival
Glenda Jackson returned to Broadway in 2018 for a revival of Edward Albee's "Three Tall Women," starring alongside Laurie Metcalf and Allison Pill, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.
2018: Won Tony Award for Best Actress in "Three Tall Women"
Glenda Jackson won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in the Broadway revival of Edward Albee's "Three Tall Women" in 2018.
April 2019: King Lear on Broadway
In April 2019, Glenda Jackson opened in the title role of King Lear on Broadway in a production directed by Sam Gold.
2019: Won BAFTA and International Emmy Award
For her performance in "Elizabeth Is Missing", Glenda Jackson was honored with both the BAFTA and International Emmy Award in 2019.
2019: Reprised "King Lear" on Broadway
Glenda Jackson reprised her role as King Lear on Broadway in 2019.
July 2020: Expresses Approval of Keir Starmer's Leadership
In an interview in July 2020, shortly after Keir Starmer became Labour leader, Jackson expressed her satisfaction with him in the role.
February 2021: Casting in "The Great Escaper"
In February 2021, it was announced that Glenda Jackson would star alongside Michael Caine in "The Great Escaper", a film about Bernard Jordan's escape from his care home to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
July 2022: Comments on Starmer's Voice
In July 2022, Jackson suggested that Starmer needed assistance in "developing his voice," viewing it as a significant weakness.
July 2022: BFI Retrospective
The British Film Institute held a month-long retrospective of Glenda Jackson's career at the BFI Southbank in London in July 2022, which included screenings and an on-stage interview.
September 2022: Completion of Filming
Glenda Jackson completed filming on "The Great Escaper" in September 2022. This marked her final film role.
June 2023: Passes Away in Blackheath
Glenda Jackson passed away at her Blackheath home on June 15, 2023, at 87 after a short illness.
June 2023: Death of Glenda Jackson
Glenda Jackson passed away in June 2023.
October 2023: Release of "The Great Escaper"
"The Great Escaper", Glenda Jackson's final film, was released on October 6, 2023.