Origins & Early Life

Dame Margaret Taylor Rutherford (11 May 1892 – 22 May 1972) was an English actress of stage, films and television. Rutherford came to national attention following the Second World War in the film adaptations of Noël Coward's Blithe Spirit, and Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest. In 1948 she was awarded a Special Tony Award for Outstanding Foreign Company as a cast member of The Importance of Being Earnest, and she later won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture for her role as the Duchess of Brighton in The V.I.P.s (1963). In the early 1960s she starred as Agatha Christie's character Miss Marple in a series of four George Pollock films.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1961 and a Dame Commander (DBE) in 1967. Rutherford's early life was overshadowed by tragedies involving both of her parents. Her father, journalist and poet William Rutherford Benn, married Florence Nicholson on 16 December 1882 in Wandsworth, South London. One month after the marriage he suffered a nervous breakdown and was admitted to Bethnal House Lunatic Asylum...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Abraham Joshua Heschel — Contemporary (Died in 1972) (1972): Leading 20th-century American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher.
• Alessandro Nivola — Contemporary (Born in 1972) (1972): Versatile American actor known for film and stage work, building a notable career.
• Alison Stone (philosopher) — Contemporary (Born in 1972) (1972): British philosopher specializing in feminist and continental European thought.
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• Alessandro Manzoni — Shared historical date (05-22 · Died) (1873): Master poet and novelist whose work fueled the Italian Risorgimento and language unity.
• Arthur Conan Doyle — Shared historical date (05-22 · Born) (1859): Pioneering author of Sherlock Holmes and speculative fiction master.
• 1892 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1892
• May 11 (05-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on May 11
• 1972 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1972
• May 22 (05-22) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 22