Group visits
Bring a group to the museum
Clubs, schools, historical societies and social groups are welcome by arrangement — £2 per head, up to 20 people, with two weeks' notice.
Book a group visitGlenda Jackson had two of the most distinct careers of any figure connected with West Kirby: two decades as one of Britain's most acclaimed screen and stage actresses, followed by more than twenty years as a Member of Parliament, before a remarkable return to acting in her eighties.
An Academy Award-winning actress
Jackson won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, for Women in Love (1969) and A Touch of Class (1973), alongside a string of BAFTA and Emmy awards, including for her television portrayal of Elizabeth I in Elizabeth R (1971). She was educated at West Kirby County Grammar School for Girls before training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and building a stage career with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
From the stage to Parliament
In 1992, at the height of her acting fame, Jackson stood for Parliament and was elected Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, a seat she held until standing down in 2015. She served as a junior transport minister under Tony Blair and was known in the Commons for outspoken, independent-minded contributions on housing and social policy.
A late return to acting
After leaving Parliament, Jackson returned to the stage in her late seventies, taking on the title role in King Lear at the Old Vic in 2016 to widespread critical acclaim — a rare instance of a former MP returning to major theatrical roles. She continued acting until shortly before her death in 2023.
Related research
Sources & further reading
- Glenda Jackson — Wikipedia
- See also the full bibliography for this Research section
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