English actress Jenny Agutter has been around for some time, with her roles dating back to being a child actress in the 1960s in the television series The Railway Children before landing the part in the film of the same name. She has established herself as one of the leading British actresses for film roles such as in Equus and An American Werewolf in London. Her Television credits include Red Dwarf, Spooks, TECX, The Diamond Brothers, The Buccaneers, The Invisibles and And The Beat Goes On.
Picking her best film role is thus difficult, but the seven listed here are all contenders.
The Railway Children (1970)
Based on the book of the same name by Edith Nesbit, the film tells the story of three children and their mother, who is trying to prove the innocence of her husband who has been accused of selling state secrets to Russia. The children – played by Jenny Agutter, Sally Thomsett and Gary Warren – enjoy watching the trains and manage to avert a rail disaster by warning the driver of a landslide.
Walkabout (1971)
Though this came out after The Railway Children, it was filmed before it and included Jenny Agutter’s first nude scene – she was sixteen at the time of filming and was thus of legal age in Australia where the film was made. The scene was cut from the original release in the USA though. The film tells the story of a brother and sister abandoned in the outback where they are befriended by an Aboriginal boy.
Logan’s Run (1976)
Based on a science fiction novel by William F. Nolan, this tells the story of a future society in which everyone aged over 30 is killed to prevent overpopulation. Michael York plays a sandman whose job it is to chase runners, people who try to escape the cull when their time comes. When his time comes, he goes on the run himself with Jessica 6 (played by Jenny Agutter). The scene where Jenny Agutter and Michael York take off their wet clothes and put on furs was originally longer but was cut because it was felt this would give it an R rating in the USA. Clips of this deleted scene are rumoured to still exist though have never appeared on an official DVD release.
Equus (1977)
Based on Peter Schaffer’s play of the same name, Equus stars Richard Burton as a psychiatrist investigating the blinding of six horses with a metal spike. It was nominated for three Oscars and won two Golden Globes. Jenny Agutter landed a Bafta for best supporting actress for her role as Jill Mason, the girlfriend of the stable boy who committed the atrocity on the horses.
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
This tongue-in-cheek werewolf drama broke new ground in special effects at the time with the change from human to werewolf – no more falling down behind the sofa and reappearing wearing a mask. Jenny Agutter plays a nurse who first tends the injured American in hospital and then has a relationship with him after he is discharged. This is also listed as one of the ten best horror movies of all time.
Child’s Play 2 (1990)
This horror sequel stars Jenny Agutter as Joanne Simpson, who is now the foster parent of Andy Barclay, whose mother is in a psychiatric hospital after the events in the first film.
The Railway Children (2000)
Jenny Agutter goes full circle and returns to the story that originally made her famous. But in this made-for-TV version, she now plays the mother rather than the elder daughter Bobbie, who is now played by Jemima Rooper, who recently starred as Sarah Francis in Bouquet of Barbed Wire.
Best Jenny Agutter Film of All Time
Jenny Agutter is still probably best known for her roles in the various versions of The Railway Children. She won a deserved Bafta for her efforts in Equus, and she was great in Logan’s Run. But her top role has to be as Nurse Alex Price in An American Werewolf in London. Disagreements are welcome via the comments box below.
Steve Rogerson - Steve Rogerson is a UK-based writer specialising in television, technology, sports and beer.
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