Margaret Rutherford's name is often associated with the characteristics of being just-chinned and eccentric, which have led some to believe she was destined to play the role of Agatha Christie's iconic sleuth, Jane Marple. Rutherford portrayed Marple in four films between 1961 and 1964, and even made a cameo appearance in The Alphabet Murders in 1965.
Rutherford's acting career began as a student at London's Old Vic, where she made her stage debut in 1925. She waited until the age of 41 to make her West End debut in 1933. Her screen debut came in 1936, when she played the role of Miss Butterby in the Twickenham-Wardour production of Hideout in the Alps.
In the summer of 1941, Noël Coward's play Blithe Spirit opened on the London stage, with Coward himself directing. Rutherford played the role of Madame Arcati, a genuine psychic, which was a role that Coward had envisioned for her and tailored specifically to her talents. She reprised her performance in the 1945 film adaptation, directed by David Lean, which became one of her most memorable roles.
Rutherford's portrayal of Madame Arcati, complete with her iconic cape fluttering behind her as she cycled through the Kentish countryside, set the standard for the character and cemented her place in film history. Despite her extensive film career, which spanned over 40 films, Rutherford will be most remembered for her unforgettable performances as Madame Arcati and Miss Jane Marple.
