Helen Mirren Calls the Late Geraldine McEwan's Stage Acting 'Miraculous'

BroadwayWorld previously reported that stage and screen actress Geraldine McEwan passed away earlier this week, and her contemporaries have been voicing their condolences and memories of the award-winner.

"Watching performances by Geraldine McEwan at the Old Vic in the early days of the National Theatre was one of the main reasons I nurtured my dream of becoming an actress," says Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren.

Mirren continued, "Her wit and 'lightness of being' on the stage was miraculous. That beautiful distinctive voice carried all the way to the Gods, where I was perched, and weaved its magic on me."

Mirren says that she revered McEwan just as much as she did any legendary actress, "For many years she, with Maggie Smith, were the altar at which I worshipped. Many years later I met Geraldine, and the icon was revealed to be kind, funny, generous, human and just totally lovely. At that moment my worship turned to love. One of the lights of the theater has just gone out."

Multitalented British actress and director, best known for portraying the Agatha Christie detective Miss Marple, Geraldine McEwan, has died at age 82. The BAFTA Award-winner's family says she died on January 30, due to complications from a stroke suffered in October.