Dame Margaret Rutherford DBE (11 May 1892 – 22 May 1972) was an English character actress, who first came to prominence following World War II in the film adaptations of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. She is best-known for her 1960s performances as Miss Marple in several films loosely based on Agatha Christie's novels.
Born in the (then) Surrey town of Balham, she was the only child of Mr and Mrs W...
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Dame Margaret Rutherford DBE (11 May 1892 – 22 May 1972) was an English character actress, who first came to prominence following World War II in the film adaptations of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit, and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. She is best-known for her 1960s performances as Miss Marple in several films loosely based on Agatha Christie's novels.
Born in the (then) Surrey town of Balham, she was the only child of Mr and Mrs William Rutherford Benn (William Rutherford). Her father suffered from mental illness for many years, and on 4 March 1883, he battered his father to death.
As an infant, Rutherford was taken to India, but was returned to Britain when she was three to live with her aunt, Bessie Nicholson, when her mother died. She was educated at the independent Wimbledon High School and at RADA.
Having worked as a teacher of elocution, she went into acting later in life - making her stage debut at the Old Vic in 1925 at the age of thirty-three. Her physical...
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