Glenda Jackson has a turn with the Muppets

Press, 29 April 1981, Page 19

Glenda Jackson has a turn with the Muppets

The Oscar-winning actress, Glenda Jackson, makes one of her infrequent television appearances, guest starring on “The Muppet Show” tonight on Two. “Doing something like this is great fun, highly enjoyable,” Glenda said during recording breaks on the show. "But as an actress I find the medium of television intensely boring.” Miss Jackson is nothing if not forthright, with none of the airs and graces somelimes associated with top international names. Born in Cheshire, she subsidised her ambition to be an actress by serving behind the counter at Boots the chemist.

After graduating with honours from R.A.D.A. she spent six years in repertory all over England and Scotland.

Success came in 1964 in Peter Brook's production of “Marat/Sade” and it was logical that film stardom would follow. Ken Russell's “Women in Love” and “The Music Lovers,” John Schlesinger's “Sunday Bloody Sunday” established her as one of the few really bankable British actresses. “A Touch of Class.” by delightful contrast, opened up a whole new horizon of light comedies. Although her career in films is demanding, Glenda returns to the stage from time to time, though never for longer than six months. As she recorded her appearance in “The Muppet Show” she was appearing in the West End success “Rose.”

“Six months is long enough. After that time I can't get any more out of a play,’’ she said. Unlike many actors she doesn’t regard the stage as an ego-trip. “There is always fear. I've never stopped being afraid of a live audience.”

Periodically she discusses giving up her career to do something like helping the homeless or the handicapped. “I suppose it is true that this is a trivial profession. I think of all the energy I pour into what may turn out to be a very unimportant film and I feel it should be channelled into something more worth while. But perhaps I couldn't produce that kind of energy for any other job but acting.

“I was asked if there was anything I particularly wanted to do on the Muppet show and I explained that my two principal fantasies were to appear in a Western and to make a Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire musical,” Glenda said. “The writers came up with me as a pirate taking over the Muppet Theatre. So there is a kind of logic to all this craziness.”

Television comedy has been extremely good to Glenda Jackson. It was her appearance on Eric Morecambe's and Ernie Wise's Christmas show that prompted film producers to look at the celebrated actress anew and recognise her potential as 7 a comedy actress. The result was “A Touch of Class,” first of a string of glossy comedies.