Geraldine McEwan dies

Iconic Miss Marple also celebrated for film work.

by Jennie Kermode

Geraldine McEwan in The Magdalene Sisters
Geraldine McEwan in The Magdalene Sisters

Geraldine McEwan, best known for playing Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in a long-running television series, has died at the age of 82. In her 57 year career the much-admired character actress also appeared in films as diverse as Henry V, The Magdalene Sisters and Vanity Fair. She provided the voice of Miss Thipp in Wallace and Grommit film The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit and also appeared alongside Kevin Costner and Sean Conner in Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves.

An awkward child who found refuge in the theatre and quickly made an impression with her acting talents, the versatile McEwan had no formal training but soon progressed through Stratford and Broadway before finding her way into film. She was an avowed left-winger and was rumoured to have turned down the offer of being made a dame. She died peacefully following a stroke and is survived by her two children, Greg and Claudia, and by seven grandchildren.

Share this with others on...
News

New eyes on Old Hollywood How images of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Rita Hayworth inspired Pretty Babies

Lost Boys Wayne Wapeemukwa on drawing on reality for Manhunt while avoiding a true crime approach

Serious about comedy Louis Paxton on grounding the humour of The Incomer in darker elements

That shrinking feeling Shivek Gupta and Syed Shadan on the Mumbai housing market and Chaar Diwaari

A woman who didn't belong Anna Cazenave Cambet on working with Vicky Krieps in Love Me Tender

A dialogue of parchment and celluloid Jean-Jacques Annaud on Umberto Eco and The Name Of The Rose

More news and features

We're bringing you reviews and more from the Locarno Film Festival.



We're looking forward to the Edinburgh International Film Festival and Frightfest.



We've recently brought you coverage of the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Muslim International Film Festival, Docs Ireland, Sheffield DocFest, ImagineNative, Tribeca and Cannes.



Read our full for more.


Visit our festivals section.

Interact

Don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.


It's a busy time for festivals and here's the latest:


EIFF Gets back its mojo


Locarno Isabella Rossellini receives Excellence Award


London Jesse Eisenberg's The Debut to close festival


San Sebastian announces José Giovanni retrospective


Dinard Amira Casar to head jury, plus opening film announced