Who was Margaret Rutherford? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In May

Also Known As: Margaret Taylor Rutherford-Benn

Died At Age: 80

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Stringer Davis

father: William Rutherford Benn

mother: Florence

children: Dawn Langley Simmons

Actresses British Women

Height: 5'5" (165 cm), 5'5" Females

Died on: May 22, 1972

place of death: Chalfont Saint Peter, United Kingdom

City: London, England

Cause of Death: Alzheimer

Diseases & Disabilities: Alzheimer's, Depression

More Facts

education: Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art

Recommended For You

1

What were some popular movies starring Margaret Rutherford?

Some of Margaret Rutherford's popular movies include "Murder, She Said" (1961), "Murder Most Foul" (1964), and "The V.I.P.s" (1963).
2

Did Margaret Rutherford have any interesting hobbies outside of acting?

Yes, Margaret Rutherford was known for her love of gardening and painting. She found these activities relaxing and fulfilling.
3

What was Margaret Rutherford's approach to acting?

Margaret Rutherford was known for her unique and eccentric acting style. She often brought humor and charm to her performances, making her a beloved figure in the entertainment industry.
4

Did Margaret Rutherford face any challenges in her career?

Margaret Rutherford faced struggles with self-doubt and anxiety throughout her career. Despite these challenges, she persevered and continued to deliver memorable performances.
5

How did Margaret Rutherford inspire other actors in the industry?

Margaret Rutherford inspired many actors with her bold and fearless approach to her craft. Her ability to bring characters to life in a captivating way left a lasting impact on those who worked with her.

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Childhood & Early Life

Margaret Taylor Rutherford was born in 1892 in Balham, South London, to William Benn and Florence Rutherford. Her father, who was a poet and journalist, had a history of nervous breakdowns and was confined to a lunatic asylum for the greater part of his life.

Soon after her birth, the family relocated to India, where she lived until the age of three. After her mother committed suicide, she was brought back to London to be raised by her mother’s sister Bessie Nicholson. She was told that his father had died of a broken heart.

Until the age of 12, Rutherford studied at Wimbledon High School. Thereafter, she moved to Raven's Croft School in Seaford, where she became interested in dramatics and began to participate in plays.

Upon graduating from school, she began her career as a piano and elocution teacher. Around this time, she also began to take private acting lessons, which to a large extent were financed by her aunt.

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Early Career

Margaret Rutherford’s aunt Bessie Nicholson passed away in 1925, leaving behind a legacy for her niece. Rutherford used the money to enroll in the Old Vic School in London. In the same year, she debuted on stage with small walk-on roles.

In 1928, she became an understudy to Mabel Terry-Lewis at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. Thereafter, she began to work with different repertory theatres, slowly establishing herself as a comedy artist.

In 1933, she made her first appearance at the West End. However, she was mostly ignored by the critics despite her obvious talent. Nonetheless, she continued to work on stage, appearing in plays like ‘The Master Builder’, ‘Harvey House’, ‘Tavern in the Town’, 'The Melody That Got Lost' and ‘Spring Meeting’.

In 1936, she debuted in films with ‘Dusty Ermine’, which was followed by ‘Talk of the Devil’ and ‘Troubled Waters’. Hereafter, she started focusing on her film career, in addition to appearing in several plays. Overall, she was part of 45 movies in her career.

Gaining Recognition

Margaret Rutherford was first noticed in 1939 when she essayed the role of Miss Prism in the stage production of Oscar Wilde's ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the Globe Theatre. It was followed by ‘Rebecca’ (1940), in which she played Mrs. Danvers and received critical acclaim for her role.

Her depiction of Aunty Bijou in the film version of ‘Spring Meeting’ was widely appreciated in 1941. Concurrently, she continued working on stage and appeared as Madame Arcati in ‘Blithe Spirit’ at the Piccadilly Theatre. She later successfully reprised the role in its film version in 1945.

In 1944, Rutherford traveled to Belgium and France with Entertainments National Service Association. Three years later, she traveled to the USA, where she played Lady Bracknell in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the Royale Theatre, New York.

She reprised the role of Miss Prism in the film version of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ in 1952, earning great reviews for her performance. Thereafter, she travelled to Australia in 1957 for her film and stage projects.

In the 1960s, Rutherford appeared as Miss Jane Marple in four Agatha Christie films: ‘Murder, She Said’ (1961), ‘Murder at the Gallop’ (1963), ‘Murder Most Foul’ (1964) and ‘Murder Ahoy!’ (1964). Meanwhile in 1963, she appeared as The Duchess of Brighton in the film ‘The V.I.P.s’, a role that earned her several awards.

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Her last stage performance was in the play ‘The Rival’ (1966), whereas her last film as an actress was ‘Arabella’ (1967). Her last film credit, however, was for ‘The Wacky World of Mother Goose’, in which she voice acted for the role of Mother Goose.

Major Works

Margaret Rutherford is best known for her role of Miss Marple in Agatha Christie's murder series. In these films, the character that she depicted was of a bold and eccentric nature, which was a deviation from Christie’s original creation. Although Christie was not initially pleased with it, she later dedicated her book, ‘Mirror Crack’d from Side to Side’ to Rutherford.

Family & Personal Life

Margaret Rutherford married Stringer Davis in 1945 when she was 53 years old. Davis was a 46 years old ex-serviceman and character actor at that time. They unofficially adopted writer Gordon Langley Hall, who after a sex change operation became Dawn Langley Simmons.

Rutherford learned about her father’s mental condition at the age of 12, and she began to worry that she too might have inherited that malady. As a result, she often suffered from debilitating depression. In her later years, she was often hospitalized and had to undergo shock treatment.

Towards the end of her life, she became a patient of Alzheimer's disease. She died on May 22, 1972 at her home in Buckinghamshire and was interred at the graveyard of St. James Church.

Facts About Margaret Rutherford

Margaret Rutherford was known for her unique fashion sense, often wearing eccentric and colorful outfits that reflected her vibrant personality.

She had a love for animals and was a dedicated supporter of animal welfare causes throughout her life.

Margaret Rutherford was an accomplished amateur archaeologist and had a keen interest in ancient history and artifacts.

She had a great sense of humor and was known for her quick wit and playful banter both on and off screen.

Margaret Rutherford was a talented painter and enjoyed creating art in her spare time, finding inspiration in the beauty of nature and everyday life.

Margaret Rutherford Biography

You wanted to know

What were some popular movies starring Margaret Rutherford?

Did Margaret Rutherford have any interesting hobbies outside of acting?

What was Margaret Rutherford's approach to acting?

Did Margaret Rutherford face any challenges in her career?

How did Margaret Rutherford inspire other actors in the industry?