Glenda Jackson, an award-winning actor, who also doubled as politician, has died at the age of 87, BBC confirms. A rep for the star announced on June 15 that Jackson “died peacefully at her home in Blackheath, London this morning after a brief illness with her family at her side.”
Jackson gained international recognition after starring in 1969’s romantic drama, “Women in Love” — a film that earned her the Best Actress award at the 1971 Oscars. Four years later, she received her second Best Actress win at the Academy Awards for her role as Vickie Allessio in Melvin Frank’s “A Touch of Glass.” Through her decades-long acting career, Jackson racked up many more awards and accolades including Emmys, BAFTA awards, and one Tony Award.
Beyond her successful acting career, Jackson was also an accomplished politician. After retiring from the big screen in 1992, Jackson went on to represent the Labour Party in the elections at the House of Commons. Despite the disparity in acting and politics, Jackson believed there were a few similarities.
“All great drama is essentially trying to tell the truth about what we are. All Shakespeare ever asks is, Who are we, what are we, why are we? And I think politics at its best is trying to find out how you do create a society in which there is genuine equality which acknowledges that we are different,” she explained in a 2018 interview with Time.
In the wake of the tragic news, Glenda Jackson’s death has been met with an outpouring of tributes from her colleagues, both in the acting scene and in politics. “I was very sad to hear of Glenda Jackson’s passing,” Sir Keir Starmer, the current leader of the Labour Party said in a statement, per Evening Standard.
“She leaves a space in our cultural and political life that can never be filled.” Media personality Carol Vorderman also shared a tribute to the late actor, whom she described as extraordinary, on Twitter. “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,” Vorderman wrote.
During her time in politics, Jackson, a known socialist, championed many important social causes and continued to do so even after stepping away from the scene. In 2020, she famously pledged support for Fix Dementia Care, a campaign targeted at fighting discrimination against people living with dementia.
“I am supporting Alzheimer’s Society’s Fix Dementia Care campaign, as I believe it truly addresses and offers solutions to the issues in the social care system for people affected by dementia,” she said in a statement at the time.
Resolute in many of her beliefs, Jackson will forever be remembered for her talent, her intelligence, and most of all, her unrivaled fearlessness.
