# Margaret Rutherford

> British actress (1892–1972)

**Wikidata**: [Q230143](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q230143)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Rutherford)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/margaret-rutherford

## Summary
Margaret Rutherford was a British actress known for her distinctive performances as a character actor, stage actor, and film actor. She gained international recognition for her work, winning both the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture.

## Biography
- **Born:** May 11, 1892  
- **Nationality:** United Kingdom  
- **Education:** Affiliated with Royal Academy of Dramatic Art  
- **Known for:** Character acting, stage performances, and film roles  
- **Employer(s):** Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (affiliated institution)  
- **Field(s):** Acting (character, stage, film)  

## Contributions
Margaret Rutherford contributed to the performing arts through a nearly 50-year career spanning 1925–1972. She specialized in portraying eccentric and unusual characters, earning critical acclaim for her unique style. Her most significant contributions include her Academy Award-winning performance as Miss Marple in "Murder at the Gallop" (1963) and her Golden Globe-winning role in "The V.I.P.s" (1963). Her work established her as a pioneering figure in character acting, influencing subsequent performers of unconventional roles.

## FAQs
**When did Margaret Rutherford live?**  
Margaret Rutherford was born on May 11, 1892, and died on May 22, 1972, living for 80 years.

**What awards did Margaret Rutherford receive?**  
She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture during her career.

**What was Margaret Rutherford's full name?**  
Her full name was Margaret Taylor Rutherford, though she was professionally known as Margaret Rutherford.

**Where was Margaret Rutherford trained?**  
She was affiliated with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a prestigious drama school in London, England.

**What acting disciplines did Margaret Rutherford pursue?**  
She worked across multiple disciplines as a character actor, stage actor, and film actor.

## Why They Matter
Margaret Rutherford redefined character acting in British theater and cinema, proving that eccentric and unconventional portrayals could achieve mainstream critical acclaim. Her Academy Award and Golden Globe victories normalized quirky, non-traditional performances in mainstream awards, paving the way for future actors like Judi Dench or Maggie Smith. Her association with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art also helped legitimize specialized acting training institutions, while her prolific work in both stage and film bridged performing arts traditions during the mid-20th century.

## Notable For
- Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (1964)  
- Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture (1964)  
- Affiliation with Royal Academy of Dramatic Art  
- Pioneering work in character acting (1925–1972)  
- Notable for portraying Miss Marple in film adaptations  
- Career spanning nearly five decades  

## Body
### Early Life and Background
Margaret Taylor Rutherford was born on May 11, 1892, in the United Kingdom. She developed an early association with the performing arts through her affiliation with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a London-based drama school established in 1904. This connection provided foundational training that shaped her unique acting approach.

### Acting Career
Rutherford began her professional career in 1925, developing a reputation for portraying eccentric and unusual characters. Her work encompassed three primary disciplines:
- **Stage Acting**: Performed live before in-person audiences, honing her craft in theatrical productions.
- **Film Acting**: Appeared in numerous films, achieving her most notable roles in motion pictures.
- **Character Acting**: Predominantly played unusual or eccentric characters, becoming her signature style.

Her career spanned from 1925 until her death in 1972, establishing her as a versatile performer across mediums.

### Key Achievements
Rutherford's most significant professional milestone came in 1963–1964 when she:
- Won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Murder at the Gallop" (1963)
- Received the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for her performance in "The V.I.P.s" (1963)

These awards cemented her status as a leading character actress in international cinema, particularly for her portrayal of Miss Marple in detective film adaptations.

### Affiliations and Legacy
Beyond her acting work, Rutherford maintained a notable affiliation with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, contributing to the institution's prestige in performing arts education. Her distinctive approach to character acting influenced generations of performers, proving that idiosyncratic portrayals could achieve critical and commercial success in mainstream media.

Her death on May 22, 1972, marked the end of a nearly five-decade career that left a lasting impact on British theater and film, particularly in advancing recognition for character actors.

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. The Peerage
3. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
4. [Source](https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1964)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. MusicBrainz
8. [Source](https://ca.hobbygaiety.com/10746698-margaret-rutherford-biography-career-personal-life)
9. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
10. SNAC
11. Internet Broadway Database
12. Find a Grave
13. FemBio database
14. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
15. A historical dictionary of British women
16. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
17. IdRef
18. CONOR.SI
19. BBC Things
20. The Movie Database
21. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data
22. performing-arts.ch