Tributes have been paid from the worlds of arts and politics to Glenda Jackson, the Oscar-winning actor turned Labour MP, who has died aged 87.
Keir Starmer said: “I was very sad to hear of Glenda Jackson’s passing. She leaves a space in our cultural and political life that can never be filled. She played many roles with great distinction, passion and commitment.
“From award-winning actor to campaigner and activist to Labour MP and government minister, Glenda Jackson was always fighting for human rights and social justice. As a fellow north London MP, I know how much she was loved and respected by her constituents.”
The Labour leader evoked her appearance on Morecambe and Wise as Cleopatra with a play on her line: “All men are fools, and what makes them so is having beauty like what I have got.”
He said: “Of course, no tribute to Glenda could fail to mention her role as Cleopatra in that most famous and loved of all the Morecambe and Wise sketches. We will never see talent like what she has got again.”
Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson said: “His thoughts will be with her friends and family at this time, but I’m sure we will have more to say.”
Fellow actors also paid tribute to Jackson. Mia Farrow called her a “magnificent actor”, adding: “She was also a powerful voice for her district and her country in parliament. She could not have been more clear about Margaret Thatcher.”
Jane Horrocks said on Twitter that Jackson “took on incredible challenges both in politics and acting. Never defeated, always strong. A lioness.”
Cary Elwes said he was mesmerised by her performance as Elizabeth I in the 1971 film Mary, Queen of Scots. He tweeted: “She made my pulse accelerate.”
Laura Farris, the Conservative MP for Newbury, paid tribute to her one-time local MP on Twitter: “We weren’t in the same party, but Glenda was once my local MP. Double Oscar winner, Labour MP and minister, who lit up the Old Vic as King Lear at the tender age of 80. I used to wonder – has any MP of the modern era lived so vividly?”
David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, tweeted: “Very sad to hear that the wonderful Glenda Jackson has died. I enjoyed working with her during her period in parliament. She was a principled campaigner for the arts and social justice and always down to earth, fearless, outspoken and Labour to her core.”
Lucy Powell, the shadow culture secretary, recalled working for Jackson in her 20s before joining parliament a decade later. She said: “She was always incredibly kind and supportive to me. I will also remember her cutting humour, general disdain at most things, all while smoking.”
Diane Abbott, a fellow leftwing, long-serving backbencher, said on Twitter: “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.”
The broadcaster turned politician Gyles Brandreth and the actor turned politician Tracy Brabin also paid tribute. Brandreth said Jackson was “a wonderful actress, a committed politician [and] a remarkable human being … We became MPs on the same day in 1992 and I treasure our unlikely friendship. She was such a gifted, caring and special person who came into the world to make a difference – and did.”
Brabin said Jackson was a “titan of the theatre and politics and [was] someone I deeply admired. Condolences to her family and friends.”
Alastair Campbell called Jackson “one of the finest actresses of our lifetime … I sometimes felt she found the transition to politics harder than she expected. But a great life well lived and a major contribution on so many fronts.”
Siân Berry, the former Green party leader and Local Government Association member, recalled Jackson being “very friendly and supportive backstage in all the hustings and at the count” when running against her in her parliamentary seat.
David Baddiel said on Twitter: “[What] I will always love Glenda Jackson for is unironically saying in a radio interview that she felt the height of her acting career was performing with Morecambe and Wise.”
