Margaret Leighton, a renowned British theatre actress, was born on February 26, 1922, in Worcestershire, England. The daughter of a businessman, she developed an early passion for acting and left school at the age of 15 to pursue her dream.
Leighton's professional stage debut came in 1938 with a small role in the stage play "Laugh with Me" at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. She quickly became one of the theatre's star students, earning the attention of Sir Barry Jackson, who hired her as a stage manager and offered her a small role in the production.
In 1944, Leighton made her London debut at the Old Vic, playing the daughter of the troll king in "Peer Gynt." She went on to join the company under the auspices of Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson, earning distinction as a classical stage actress.
Leighton made her Broadway debut in 1946, appearing in repertory productions of "Henry IV, Parts I and II," "Uncle Vanya," and others. She continued to work in theatre throughout the 1950s and 1960s, earning a Tony Award for her performance as Mrs. Shankland in "Separate Tables" in 1956.
In addition to her work in theatre, Leighton also had a successful film career, appearing in a wide range of genres, from romantic dramas to crime thrillers. Some of her notable film credits include "The Winslow Boy" (1948),"Under Capricorn" (1949),"The Astonished Heart" (1950),"Murder on Monday" (1952),and "The Holly and the Ivy" (1952).
Leighton was married three times, first to publisher Max Reinhardt, then to actor Laurence Harvey, and finally to actor Michael Wilding. She had no children by any of her marriages.
Despite her struggles with multiple sclerosis, Leighton continued to act until her death on January 13, 1976. She left behind a legacy as one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation, with a career that spanned over four decades.
