Margaret Leighton
Biography
Margaret Leighton was an English actress born on February 26, 1922, in Barnt Green, Worcestershire, England. She was known for her work in film and theatre, exhibiting an exquisite sense of grandeur and refinement, as well as versatility in both classical and contemporary roles. Among her career achievements, she created the role of Hannah Jelkes in Tennessee Williams' play The Night of the Iguana. Her film credits include An Ideal Husband, The Winslow Boy, and The Best Man. Margaret Leighton passed away on January 13, 1976, in Chichester, West Sussex, at the age of 53.
Career overview
Margaret Leighton was an English actress born on February 26, 1922, in Barnt Green, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom. She was known for her exquisite sense of grandeur and refinement, as well as her versatility in both classical and contemporary works. Throughout her career, she established herself as a notable stage and film actress. Among her notable theatrical contributions, she created the role of Hannah Jelkes in Tennessee Williams's play The Night of the Iguana. Her film work included appearances in motion pictures such as An Ideal Husband, The Winslow Boy, and The Winslow Boy's alternative listing or related credits known as Ten nejlepší.
Her acting career spanned numerous credits, totaling fifty-two known credits listed across her filmography. Her performances extended across various mediums, contributing to her recognition as a prominent English actress of her time. Leighton passed away on January 13, 1976, in Chichester, West Sussex. Her life and career remain documented through her extensive work in film and theatre, marking her enduring presence in the performing arts as noted by archival and biographical references.
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Career timeline
Full Filmography
54 titles- Journey Through the Black Sun (1982) as Arra
- Trial by Combat (1976) as Ma Gore
- Space: 1999 (1975) as Arra
- Galileo (1975) as Elderly Court Lady
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1974) as Francoise DuVal
- Great Expectations (1974) as Miss Havisham
- From Beyond the Grave (1974) as Madame Orloff
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) as Francoise DuVal
- The Upper Crusts (1973) as Lady Phyllida Seacroft
- Bequest to the Nation (1973) as Lady Frances Nelson
- Lady Caroline Lamb (1972) as Lady Melbourne
- Zee and Co. (1972) as Gladys
- High Summer (1972) as Lady Huntercombe
- The Go-Between (1971) as Mrs Maudsley
- Hamlet (1970) as Gertrude
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Gertrude
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as The Woman
- The Madwoman of Chaillot (1969) as Constance, the Madwoman of Passy
- An Ideal Husband (1969) as Mrs Cheveley
- The Vortex (1969) as Florence Lancaster
- All On Her Own (1968) as Rosemary
- Judd, for the Defense (1967)
- The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966) as Gita Volander
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Helen Lancaster
- BBC Play of the Month (1965) as Mrs. Cheveley
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Amy Hunter
- 7 Women (1965) as Agatha Andrews
- The Loved One (1965) as Mrs. Helen Kenton
- The Wednesday Play (1964) as Florence Lancaster
- The Best Man (1964) as Alice Russell
- Burke's Law (1963) as Connie Hanson
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Nell Snyder
- Waltz of the Toreadors (1962) as Emily Fitzjohn
- Ben Casey (1961)
- The Sound and the Fury (1959) as Caddy Compson
- The Passionate Stranger (1957) as Judith Wynter / Leonie Hathaway
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Lady Huntercombe
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Iris Teleton
- The Constant Husband (1955) as Miss Chesterman
- ITV Opening Night at the Guildhall (1955) as Gwendolen Fairfax
- The Good Die Young (1954) as Eve Ravenscourt
- Carrington V.C. (1954) as Valerie Carrington
- Tonight in Britain (1954) as Self
- The Teckman Mystery (1954) as Helen Teckman
- Home at Seven (1952) as Janet Preston
- The Holly and the Ivy (1952) as Margaret Gregory
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Gertrude
- Calling Bulldog Drummond (1951) as Sergeant Helen Smith
- The Elusive Pimpernel (1950) as Marguerite Blakeney
- The Astonished Heart (1950) as Leonora Vail
- Under Capricorn (1949) as Milly
- The Winslow Boy (1948) as Catherine Winslow
- Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948) as Flora MacDonald
- A Touch of Venus as Rosemary
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Margaret Leighton best known for?
Margaret Leighton is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including My Sweetheart (1998), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), Frankenstein: The True Story (1974), From Beyond the Grave (1974).
When and where was Margaret Leighton born?
Margaret Leighton was born on February 26, 1922 in Barnt Green, Worcestershire, England, U.K.. They passed away on January 13, 1976.
How many credits does Margaret Leighton have?
Margaret Leighton has accumulated over 54 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1948 to 1982.
What is Margaret Leighton's background in cinema and television?
Margaret Leighton was an English actress born on February 26, 1922, in Barnt Green, Worcestershire, England. She was known for her work in film and theatre, exhibiting an exquisite sense of grandeur and refinement, as well as versatility in both classical and contemporary roles. Among her career achievements, she creat...
Margaret Leighton by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) as Gertrude — aged about 29
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1973) as Francoise DuVal — aged about 51
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Nell Snyder — aged about 40
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Iris Teleton — aged about 33
- Judd, for the Defense (1967) — aged about 45
- Frankenstein: The True Story (1974) as Francoise DuVal — aged about 52
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