Peggy Ashcroft

Dame Edith Margaret Emily Ashcroft, known professionally as Peggy Ashcroft, was an English actress whose career spanned over 60 years. Born into a comfortable middle-class family, Ashcroft developed a passion for theater at a young age despite parental opposition. She began her career in smaller theaters before graduating from drama school and within two years, she was starring in leading roles in London's West End. Maintaining her leading role in British theater for over 50 years, she worked extensively with key theater companies including the Old Vic, John Gielgud’s companies, the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the National Theatre. While she had a reputation for her work in Shakespeare, she was also known for her commitment to modern drama, appearing in plays by Bertolt Brecht, Samuel Beckett, and Harold Pinter. Her career was almost entirely dedicated to live theater until she transitioned to television and cinema in the 1980s, earning widespread recognition and numerous awards.