Jenny Agutter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jenny Agutter OBE
Agutter in 2014
Born	Jennifer Ann Agutter (1952-12-20) 20 December 1952 (age 72) Taunton, Somerset, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1964–present
Spouse(s)	Johan Tham ​ (m. 1990)​
Children	1

Jennifer "Jenny" Ann Agutter (born December 20, 1952) is a famous English actress. She started her career as a child in 1964. She is well-known for her roles in two versions of The Railway Children: a BBC television series in 1968 and a popular movie in 1970.

In 1971, she starred in the movie Walkabout and the TV film The Snow Goose. For The Snow Goose, she won an Emmy Award, which is a major American award for television shows.

Agutter moved to Hollywood in 1974. She appeared in famous movies like Logan's Run (1976) and An American Werewolf in London (1981). She also acted in major British films, including Equus (1977). For this role, she won a BAFTA Award, which is a top British award for film and television.

In recent years, she has appeared in the hit BBC show Call the Midwife since 2012. She also had a role in the superhero movies The Avengers (2012) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014). In 2022, she played her role from The Railway Children again in a sequel called The Railway Children Return.

Agutter is married and has one son. She does a lot of work for charities, especially those helping people with cystic fibrosis. For her charity work, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen in 2012.

Early Life and Family

Jenny Agutter was born on December 20, 1952, in Taunton, Somerset, England. Her father, Derek Agutter, was an entertainments manager for the British Army. Because of her father's job, she lived in different places as a child, including Singapore and Cyprus.

From age eight to sixteen, she went to the Elmhurst Ballet School, which was a boarding school. She was discovered by a casting agent who was looking for a young English-speaking girl for a film. This led to her first movie role.

Acting Career

Agutter's career began when she was still in school. She became a familiar face on television and in movies as a teenager.

First Steps in Film and Television

Agutter with actor Richard Harris in the TV film The Snow Goose (1971)

Agutter first appeared on TV in the BBC series The Newcomers. In 1968, she played Roberta "Bobbie" Waterbury in the BBC's TV version of The Railway Children. Two years later, she played the same role in the famous 1970 movie version. This movie made her a star.

She also starred in the film Walkabout (1971). In it, she played a schoolgirl lost in the Australian outback with her younger brother. The same year, she won an Emmy Award for her role in the TV movie The Snow Goose.

Hollywood and Major Film Roles

When she was 21, Agutter moved to Hollywood to work in American movies. She starred in the science-fiction film Logan's Run (1976). She also appeared in The Eagle Has Landed (1976) and An American Werewolf in London (1981).

One of her most celebrated roles was in Equus (1977). For her performance, she won a BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress.

Return to Britain and Television Work

In the 1990s, Agutter moved back to the United Kingdom to focus on her family. She began to work more in television. She appeared in popular shows like Red Dwarf and Heartbeat. In 2000, she appeared in a new TV version of The Railway Children, this time playing the mother.

Since 2012, she has played the kind and wise Sister Julienne in the popular BBC drama Call the Midwife. She also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Councilwoman Hawley in The Avengers (2012) and Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).

Work in the Theatre

Agutter has also performed on stage in many plays. She has worked with the famous Royal Shakespeare Company, appearing in plays like King Lear. In the 1980s, she even performed on Broadway in New York City. She is a supporter of the Shakespeare Schools Festival, a charity that helps children perform Shakespeare's plays in real theatres.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Agutter in 2022

In 1989, Agutter met Johan Tham, a Swedish hotel manager. They married in 1990 and have a son named Jonathan. Agutter lives in London but also loves spending time in Cornwall.

She is very active in supporting charities. She works to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that affects her niece. She is a patron of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust and has helped raise money and support for the cause. Because of her dedication to charity, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Jenny Agutter para niños