Margot Kidder was a Canadian-American actress and activist best known for her portrayal as Superman’s love interest Lois Lane in the ‘Superman film franchise. Kidder was born in the Northwest Territories of Canada, in Yellowknife. She became interested in the entertainment industry at a young age and began her career with a role in “The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar.” “A Quiet Day in Belfast” was the film for which she won her first Canadian Film Award for Best Actress. Additionally, the film was nominated for ‘Best Feature Film.’ She gained international recognition for her portrayal of Lois Lane in the superhero film Superman. It was the most expensive film up to that point, and it was a huge financial and critical success. Three Oscar nominations were made for the film. The Saturn Award for Best Actress went to Kidder for her performance. Her professional life took a turn for the worse in the late 1980s, despite her many years of professional success. In the 1990s, she endured a nervous breakdown, which negatively impacted her career. Despite the obstacles she confronted, she worked diligently to revive her career in the 2000s with steady roles in independent films and television.
Youth and Early Life
Margot Kidder was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada on October 17, 1948. Her father, Kendall Kidder, was an authority on explosives, and her mother, Jocelyn Mary, taught history. She possessed English and Welsh ancestry. There were four siblings in her family.
During her early years, she attended multiple institutions before graduating from Havergal College, a Toronto boarding school. Her sister Annie also became an actress, and she also served as the executive director of the charity People for Education.
Margot kidder’s Career
Margot Kidder made her film début in ‘The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar’, a 1968 drama. Peter Pearson directed the film, which is regarded as one of the finest English-Canadian docudramas. It was a realistic portrayal of the life of a nomadic bush laborer who cannot provide for his family but refuses government assistance.
She had a supporting character in the 1969 film Gaily, Gaily. The film, directed by Norman Jewison, was based on a Ben Hecht novel. Three Oscar nominations were made for the film.
Kidder’s first award was for her performance in the 1974 drama film “A Quiet Day in Belfast.” The film was based on Andrew Dalrymple’s drama. Her performance earned her the Canadian Film Award for Best Actress. She subsequently appeared in films like ‘The Great Waldo Pepper’ (1975) and ‘Shoot the Sun Down’ (1976). (1978).
Her portrayal of Lois Lane in the 1978 superhero film “Superman” garnered her international recognition.
Christopher Reeves portrayed the famous DC Comics protagonist “Superman” in the film, which was directed by Richard Donner. The movie was a critical and commercial success. Additionally, it was nominated for three Oscars.
She then portrayed the female lead in the supernatural horror film The Amityville Horror, released in 1979.
The plot of the film is centered on a young couple who purchase a house only to discover that it is possessed by hostile supernatural forces. The film was a commercial success and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Score. However, the critical reception was negative. She then appeared in the commercially unsuccessful film Willie and Phil.
She reprised her role as Lois Lane in ‘Superman II,’ the first sequel to ‘Superman’ released in 1980. The film, directed by Richard Lester, was a commercial and critical success. After starring in films such as “Heartache” (1981) and “Some Kind of Hero” (1982), she reprised her role as Lois Lane in “Superman III” (1983). The film, directed by Richard Lester, was less successful commercially and critically than its prequels.
She performed the leading roles in Alan Sharpe’s 1985 action-drama film “Little Treasure” and in the 1986 animated film “GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords.” In Sidney J. Furie’s 1987 film ‘Superman IV: The Quest for Peace,’ she reprised her role as Lois Lane for the fourth time. The film grossed approximately double its budget but was not as successful as its prequels. It also received negative feedback.
In the late 1980s, her career began to decline, and she was no longer as successful as she once was. Still, she appeared in a number of films, including “Maverick” (1994), “Henry & Verlin” (1996), “Tribulation” (2000), “Death 4 Told,” (2004), “Redemption for Robbing the Dead” (2011), “Real Gangsters” (2013), and “The Dependables” (2015). (2014).
Throughout her career, she also appeared in numerous TV movies and guest-starred on several TV series. She was awarded an Emmy in 2014 for her performance in the television series RL Stine’s The Haunting Hour. 2016’s “The Red Maple Leaf,” a crime-drama film, and 2017’s “The Neighborhood,” a drama film, are her most recent works for the big screen.
Major Opera
J. Lee Thompson directed the horror-mystery film ‘The Reincarnation of Peter Proud’ starring Margot Kidder. The individual was named Lee Thompson. Michael Sarrazin, Jennifer O’Neill, Paul Hecht, and Cornelia Sharpe also appeared in the film. It was based on Max Ehrlich’s novel of the same name. It received mixed evaluations from the media.
In the 1978 superhero film ‘Superman,’ which was based on the DC Comics protagonist of the same name, Kidder portrayed Superman’s love interest. The film is directed by Richard Donner and depicts the origin and early existence of Superman, as well as his conflict with the villain Lex Luthor. The film’s budget was $55 million, and it grossed $300 million, or approximately six times its budget. The film was praised by critics as well. For her performance, Kidder won the Saturn Award for Best Actress.
In the 1980 sequel “Superman II,” she reprised her role as Lois Lane. It was directed by Richard Lester and grossed close to $200 million on a budget of $54 million. It starred Christopher Reeves, who reprised his role as Superman, alongside Gene Hackman, Ned Beatty, and Jackie Cooper, among others. Also received favorable reviews.
Margot’s Personal Life
In her adolescence, Margot Kidder dated former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, along with directors Brian de Palma and Steven Spielberg. She had three marriages. Thomas McGuane, an American novelist, was her first husband.
This union produced a daughter named Maggie McGuane. The duration of her second marriage to actor John Heard was only six days. Philippe de Broca was her third husband from 1983 to 1984. She stated that following her divorce, she favored the company of her dogs.
She had supported democratic and liberal causes and issues throughout her career. She also contributed to the left-wing publication CounterPunch. In 2005, she became a citizen in Butte, Montana. She stated that she chose to become a citizen so that she could continue protesting the United States intervention in Iraq. Margot Kidder died peacefully on May 13, 2018, in her slumber. The cause of her death remains unknown.
Estimated Net Worth
At the time of her passing in 2018, the Canadian-American actress Margot Kidder was worth $300,000. Margot Kidder is best known for portraying Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeve in the first four “Superman” films.