Former Labour MP Glenda Jackson dies aged 87
Glenda Jackson (Credit: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo)
2 min read
Former Labour MP and award-winning actress Glenda Jackson has passed away at the age of 87.
Jackson passed away at her home in Blackheath, South East London, after a “brief illness”.
In a statement, 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.”
Jackson was one of few actors to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting: having won two Academy Awards, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. She was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1978.
However, Jackson retired from acting in 1991, in order to devote herself to politics. In 1992, she was elected to Hampstead and Highgate, narrowly beating the Conservative candidate Oliver Letwin, a former adviser to prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
She went on to serve as Tony Blair’s transport minister from 1997 to 1999. In 2011, Jackson announced that she would not seek re-election in 2015. She stated: "I will be almost 80 and by then it will be time for someone else to have a turn.”
On leaving Parliament, Jackson returned to acting. In 2019, she starred as a woman suffering from dementia in Elizabeth Is Missing, and won a TV BAFTA for best actress the following year. Her agent said she had recently completed filming The Great Escaper in which she co-starred alongside Michael Caine.
Jackson was married to actor Roy Hodges from 1958 to 1976, with whom she had a son, political columnist Dan Hodges.
Current Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn Tullip Sidiq, who succeeded Jackson in her seat, said: “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.”
Labour MP for The Rhondda Chris Bryant said: “Really saddened to hear that Glenda Jackson has died. She was a great actor and I loved campaigning for her in Hampstead and Highgate. My thoughts are with her son Dan.”
Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Diane Abbott said: "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."
A tribute to Jackson will be published in July’s edition of The House.
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