Suzman, Janet (1939–)

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Suzman, Janet (1939–)

English actress and director. Born Feb 9, 1939, in Johannesburg, South Africa; niece of anti-apartheid activist Helen Suzman; attended Kingsmead College and University of Witwaterstrand; trained at London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art; m. Trevor Nunn (actor, film director), 1969 (div. 1986); children: Joshua.

Made 1st London stage appearance in Billy Liar and joined Royal Shakespeare Company (1962); became one of the RSC's most distinguished players, winning acclaim for her Rosalind, Portia, Ophelia, Beatrice and Kate, and for work in plays by Ibsen, Chekhov, Fugard and Pinter; starred in film A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (1970) and nominated for Academy Award for portrayal of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971); won London Evening Standard Award for performance in stage productions of Antony and Cleopatra (1973) and The Three Sisters (1976); made directorial debut with Othello (1987).