For my last post on the 2018 Tony Awards, I want to congratulate Glenda Jackson who took home the Tony for Best Actress in a Play for Edward Albee‘s Three Tall Women.
Glenda Jackson is the amazing force of nature kind of woman I love to tell stories about. Her talent is obviously undeniable, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London on a scholarship. Here is a woman who found her calling and pursued it with full passion, performing a myriad of wonderful and meaty roles to much critical acclaim, even portraying a delusional pirate captain who hijacks the Muppet Show (Boy, did I use to love that show!)
And then, in the middle of all that success, she retired from acting and went into POLITICS!!! She stood for elections to the House of Commons in 1992 and became the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Hampstead and Kilburn, a position she remained very active in for 23 solid years.
Her political career at an end, since she felt she was getting along in years and someone else should take a turn, she returned to the stage at the age of 80!!! And what was her acclaimed returning role? Not ‘the old woman’ or ‘one of the three witches’ or anything like that. No, it was the title role of Shakespeare’s King Lear at the Old Vic Theatre in London. (Ok, so there was one old lady role before this one, but still!!!) How is that for courage and fearlessness? That is Amazing!!
If you are any where near Broadway in the Spring of 2019, she will be reprising her role of King Lear on Broadway.
So here is what I want you to take away from this:
- Know your passion and give it all you’ve got. Throw your whole self in!
- Be Fearless! Don’t listen to those who will tell you it can’t be done, or that you are wrong or that you are crazy. Just do it anyway. What have you got to lose?
- It is NEVER too late. Never too late to start something new. Never to late to make a change. Never too late to start afresh. As long as there is life in you, YOU CAN DO IT! And even if you only get a little time out of it….just think how good you will feel living your purpose for that time. It will make up for all the time you think you have lost…but quick note: that time was not lost…it was what brought you to where you are 😉 (Oh, and if your dream to be a working actor, it’s not too late for that either. If there is not a role for you, create one!)
It is my humble prayer for you tonight, that you find bravery within yourself, that you be fearless, be true to yourselves…
That you be inspired and then be inspiring!
Just like Glenda Jackson.
The Woman Hood 