‘It clearly struck home’: Glenda Jackson, 84, reveals she’s been approached by strangers praising her performance as a woman struggling with dementia in Elizabeth is Missing
Glenda Jackson’s prolific career has won her many adoring fans, but the actress confessed even she was shocked by the outpouring of emotion over Elizabeth is Missing.
The 84-year-old said strangers have stopped her on the street to discuss her turn as a woman with dementia in the BBC One film, which premiered on the network in 2019.
The Oscar winner played Maud, a grandmother who is forced to solve the disappearance of her friend Elizabeth as Alzheimer’s disease takes its toll.
Getting personal: Prolific British actress Glenda Jackson has confessed even she was shocked by the outpouring of emotion over her turn in Elizabeth is Missing
The actress earned a BAFTA and an International Emmy for the role, and is up for another trophy during Tuesday’s Royal Television Society Awards.
She told The Mirror: ‘It clearly struck home because I would be going down the street and a total stranger would come up who’d seen it and share their experience.
‘There was a running theme through everything people told me – helplessness, of having a parent or loved one who doesn’t recognise them anymore.’
She added: ‘I don’t worry [about getting dementia] but I do find I can’t remember names sometimes. I went into the kitchen half an hour ago and I stood at the door and thought, ”Why am I here?”
Star turn: The 84-year-old said strangers have stopped her on the street to discuss her turn as a woman with dementia in the BBC One film, which premiered on the network in 2019
Relatable: The two-time Oscar winner played Maud, a grandmother who is forced to solve the disappearance of her friend Elizabeth as Alzheimer’s disease takes its toll
Trophy collector: The actress earned a BAFTA and an International Emmy for the role, and is up for another trophy during Tuesday’s Royal Television Society Awards
Cheshire native Glenda served as a Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn (formerly Hampstead and Highgate) from 1992-2015 and was the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport under Tony Blair from 1997-1999.
She called on the country’s political parties to come together to support those suffering from dementia and find solutions for funding affected Britons.
Glenda, who worked in Boots before studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) on a scholarship, regularly worked in theatre before making the leap to film.
Taking office: The former politician, pictured here in 1992, served as a Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn from 1992-2015
Winning attitude: She starred in Ken Russell’s film adaptation for D.H. Lawrence’s Women in Love, earning her first Academy Award for her turn as Gudrun Brangwen
In 1969, she starred in Ken Russell’s film adaptation for D.H. Lawrence’s Women in Love, earning her first Academy Award for her turn as Gudrun Brangwen.
Two years later, she shaved her hairline to star as Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC’s Elizabeth R.
Her second Oscar came in 1973 for romantic comedy A Touch of Class.
Glenda left acting to pursue politics, but resumed her screen and stage career after retiring from politics in 2015.
Commitment: Glenda shaved to star as Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC’s Elizabeth R and played the monarch again in 1971’s Mary, Queen of Scots (above)