May 11, 1892

Balham, London, England, UK

One is always at pains to locate a reference to Margaret Rutherford that does not characterize her as either jut-chinned or eccentric or both. But such, taken together, made for the charm of the woman. The combination of those most mundane of attributes has led some to suggest that she was "made for" the role of Agatha Christie's indomitable sleuth, Jane Marple, whom Rutherford portrayed in four films between 1961 and 1964, and in a film cameo in 1965. Margaret Rutherford began her thespian's ca... ... (read more...) reer first as a student at London's Old Vic, debuting on stage in 1925. In 1933 she first appeared in the West End, at the not-so-tender age of 41, and had her screen debut in 1936, portraying Miss Butterby in the Twickenham-Wardour production Dusty Ermine (1936).<br/><br/>

In summer 1941, Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" opened on the London stage, with Coward himself directing. Appearing as Madame Arcati, the genuine psychic, was Margaret Rutherford, in a role in which Coward had earlier envisaged her and which he then especially shaped for her. Later, Rutherford would carry her portrayal of Madame Arcati to the screen adaptation, David Lean's Blithe Spirit (1945). And not only would this become one of Rutherford's most memorable screen performances - with her bicycling about the Kentish countryside, cape fluttering behind her - but as well, it would establish the model for portraying that pseudo-soothsayer forever thereafter. (Noel Coward had Margaret Rutherford in mind for his Madame Arcati creation). Despite Dame Margaret Rutherford's appearances in more than 40 films, it is as Madame Arcati and as Miss Jane Marple that she will best be remembered. <br/><br/>

Date of Death:
22 May 1972, Chalfont St. Peter, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. (pneumonia)<br/><br/>

Agatha Christie dedicated her 1963 novel "The Mirror Crack'd From Side To Side" to Rutherford in admiration.<br/><br/>

Awarded OBE in 1961.<br/><br/>

She started work on The Virgin and the Gypsy (1970), but illness caused her to be replaced by Fay Compton.<br/><br/>

Her husband, Stringer Davis, portrayed "Mr. Stringer" in all of her "Miss Marple" films and appeared with her in other films as well.<br/><br/>

Appointed a DBE in 1967.<br/><br/>

Her cousin is the well-known British politician Tony Benn.<br/><br/>

Though the daughter of William Benn and Florence Nicholson, her father murdered her grandfather just before she was born. Her mother died when she was three years old and she was brought up by her aunt Bessie Nicholson in Wimbledon. When her aunt died a small inheritance allowed her to join the Old Vic in repertory.<br/><br/>

She developed an interest in the theatre while at school. Her guardian aunt paid for her to have private acting lessons.<br/><br/>

In 1925 (age 33), she was accepted as a student at the Old Vic Theatre, where she appeared in several small Shakespearean roles in productions starring Edith Evans, including "The Merchant of Venice", "Measure for Measure" and "The Taming of the Shrew".<br/><br/>

The Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art named an award after her.<br/><br/>