Madeleine Sherwood
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Madeleine Sherwood - sometimes known as Madeleine Thornton-Sherwood - (born Madeleine Louise Hèléne on November 13, 1922 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada) is perhaps best known as Mae/Sister Woman and Miss Lucy in both the Broadway and film versions of Tennessee Williams’ “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof” and “Sweet Bird of Youth." She starred or featured in 18 original Broadway productions including “Arturo Ui” with Christopher Plummer, “Do I Hear A Waltz” and “ Invitation to a March.” She also worked with Richard Rogers, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim. She appeared in dozens of TV dramas and series of which she is probably best remembered for her role as Mother Superior Placido to Sally Field’s Flying Nun from 1967-1970.
Granddaughter of the Dean of Dentistry at McGill University in Montreal, Madeleine Thornton made her first stage appearance at the age of four in a church passion play. She started her professional career in Montreal when Rupert Kaplan cast her in CBC dramas and her first Canadian soap opera – “Laura and her Daughter Terry.” (Ms. Sherwood played Terry and Christopher Plummer appeared as one of her “boy friends.”)
She moved to New York City in 1950 and made her first Broadway appearance in Horton Foote’s, The Chase, replacing Kim Stanley. In 1953 she originated the role of Abigail in Arthur Miller’s, “The Crucible.” Elia Kazan cast her as Mae in Tennessee Williams “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" in 1954 and later in “Sweet Bird of Youth” as Miss Lucy. Ms. Sherwood later repeated both her roles in Cat and Sweet Bird in the film versions.
She became a member of the Actors Studio in 1957 working with Lee Strasburg and is now a life member of the Studio.
Ms. Sherwood was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. During the Civil Rights Movement she met and worked with Martin Luther King in the late 50’s and 60’s and went south to join CORE (Congress on Racial Equality). She was arrested during a Freedom Walk, jailed and sentenced to six months hard labor. Her crime? “Endangering the Customs and Mores of the People of Alabama.”’ Her lawyer, Fred Grey, was the first African-America lawyer to represent a white woman south of the Mason Dixon line. It was during this period that she lost most of her hearing.
During the 80’s she received a grant from A.F.I. as one of the first women to direct short films for the A.F.I. (along with Cecily Tyson, Joann Woodward, and others). She wrote, directed and acted in her film “Good Night Sweet Prince" which received excellent notices.
In the 70’s she met Gloria Steinem, Betty Dodson and others at the First Women’s Sexual Conference at Barnard College in New York City. From there she started consciousness raising groups and counseling workshops for Women and INCEST.
In the early 90’s she returned to her home in Canada. Although she was a long time resident of the United States, she has remained a Canadian citizen all her life. She has one daughter, two grandchildren and six great-grand children. Ms. Sherwood is a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and carries a passport that states she is a Citizen of the World. Ms. Sherwood is a firm believer in Gandhi’s statement “Planet Earth is our home, humanity is our family.
Original Broadway Productions:
The Chase – Horton Foot; The Crucible – Arthur Miller (Abigail); Cat On A Hot Tin Roof – Tennessee Williams (Mae); Sweet Bird of Youth – Tennessee Williams (Miss Lucy); Night Of The Iguana – (Replaced Bette Davis); Invitation To A March – Arthur Laurents (Lily); Garden of Sweets; Arturo Ui; Do I Hear A Waltz – Stephen Sondheim and Richard Rogers; Inadmissible Evidence; All Over – Edward Albee; Camelot;
Off-Broadway – original
Getting Out – Marsha Norman; Hey You, Light Man; Brecht on Becket – Becket; Older People – Joe Papp’s Public Theater;
Film & TV
Baby Doll; Cat On A Hot Tin Roof; Sweet Bird Of Youth; The Changeling; Broken Vows; Hurry Sundown; Teachers; The Fugitive; Dallas; Dynasty; Hotel; Unremarkable Life; Perry Mason; Pendulum; Man Hunter; Wicked Wicked; Nobody’s Child; Haunted By Her Past;
