Margot Kidder

: Margot Kidder (1948–2018) was a Canadian-American actress and activist best known as Lois Lane in Superman. Explore her life, career, struggles, famous quotes, and legacy.

Introduction

Margot Kidder (born Margaret Ruth Kidder on October 17, 1948 — died May 13, 2018) was a film, television, and stage actress whose most iconic role was as Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeve in the Superman films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Beyond her high-profile status as a leading lady, Kidder was also a passionate mental health advocate, environmentalist, and outspoken political voice. Her life story embraced both the triumphs of Hollywood and the challenges of mental illness, making her legacy deeply human and inspiring.

Early Life and Family

Margaret Ruth Kidder was born on October 17, 1948, in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.

Her father, Kendall Kidder, was an American explosives expert and mining engineer, originally from New Mexico; her mother, Jocelyn Mary “Jill” (née Wilson), was a teacher from British Columbia.

Because of her father’s work, the family moved frequently, often living in remote or frontier towns. This nomadic upbringing throughout Canada and occasionally the U.S. exposed young Margot to isolated landscapes, small communities, and a life of adaptation.

She was one of five children. Among her siblings: her sister Annie Kidder, who later became prominent in education advocacy, and a brother John Kidder who married politician Elizabeth May.

In an interview, she recalled that in the mining town where she grew up, “We didn’t have movies… my mom took me to New York and I saw Bye Bye Birdie … and that was it.”

Youth and Education

Kidder’s childhood was rooted in movement and self-reliance. The lack of consistent social or cultural infrastructure in her environs likely fostered in her a resourceful and perceptive personality.

Details about her formal schooling are less frequently cited, but as she approached adulthood she moved toward acting opportunities. Her earliest screen credit dates from the late 1960s (television in Canada) before transitioning to film.

Her early acting work included appearances on Canadian television (such as Wojeck in 1968) and in Canadian film projects like The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar.

Career and Achievements

Early Career & Breakthroughs

Kidder’s first major feature film appearance was in Gaily, Gaily (1969).

She gained attention in the 1970s with roles in various films, including Brian De Palma’s Sisters (1973).

Her performances earned critical respect and led to her casting in high-profile genre films, including The Amityville Horror (1979).

Iconic Role: Lois Lane

In 1978, Kidder starred as Lois Lane opposite Christopher Reeve in Superman: The Movie, a role she would reprise in several sequels through 1987.

Her portrayal of Lois Lane earned her acclaim for bringing warmth, spunk, and relatability to the character—no mere damsel, but a strong journalist with agency.

The Superman films were major commercial successes; the first film grossed hundreds of millions globally.

Her Lois Lane became an archetype: witty, bold, tangibly human—even when paired with a superhuman hero.

Later Film and Television Work

After Superman, Kidder continued to act steadily, often in supporting roles or in genre films (including horror, thriller, indie).

She appeared in Halloween II (2009), Chicks with Sticks (2004), and a host of television guest roles.

On television, she appeared in series episodes and TV movies until late in life.

Activism & Later Life

Kidder was outspoken about political and social causes. In 2011, she was arrested during a protest at the U.S. White House against the Keystone XL pipeline.

She became a U.S. citizen in 2005 (while retaining Canadian roots) so she could vote and voice opinions on U.S. policies.

She was also vocal about mental health awareness, especially after her own public struggles with bipolar disorder.

Sadly, her later years included health challenges and mental health crises. Her death in 2018 was ruled a suicide by overdose of alcohol and drugs.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Kidder’s Superman films helped usher in the modern superhero blockbuster era; her chemistry with Reeve and grounded performance were key to its success.

• Her openness about mental health was less common among celebrities of her era, which made her later advocacy particularly courageous.

• Her activism in environmental and political causes aligned with rising awareness of climate issues, pipeline protests, and civil engagement in the 21st century.

• In her later years, Kidder’s struggle with public scrutiny of mental illness provided visibility and encouragement for mental health destigmatization.

Legacy and Influence

Margot Kidder’s legacy resides in several overlapping spheres:

1. Iconic Lois Lane
   Her depiction of Lois Lane remains a benchmark, often cited as definitive and influencing subsequent portrayals of the character.

2. Visibility of mental health
   By speaking publicly about bipolar disorder and her own breakdowns, she contributed to broader conversations about mental wellness, treatment, and compassion.

3. Activism & conscience
   She used her platform to protest environmental degradation and advocate progressive causes. Her willingness to take stands—knowing risks—underscores how artists can intersect with activism.

4. A life of contradictions and strength
   Her journey had oscillations—stardom, crisis, recovery, advocacy—that make her story deeply human and instructive, especially for others facing adversity.

5. Continuing inspiration
   Her performances and her voice remain influential, especially in the realms of genre film, women in action roles, and mental health advocacy.

Personality and Talents

Margot Kidder was known for her sharp intellect, fearless expressiveness, wit, and emotional honesty. She once said:

“Nudity in the flesh doesn’t bother me. But having my mind uncovered — that scares the hell out of me.”

She often described the pressures and amplifications that come from being a public figure:

“With any group of people in life, sad things happen, and crazy things, and happy things. When you’re in the public eye, it’s just amplified, that’s all.”

Her forthrightness extended to admitting vulnerability:

“I went to work and did a lot of homework about what was wrong with me.”

She also remarked on fame’s strangeness:

“When you finally end something like Superman and then find yourself world-famous, it’s pretty weird, lemme tell ya. Fame is weird, is what it really is.”

These quotes show a woman who saw beyond appearances, confronting fame, identity, and mental health with candor.

Famous Quotes of Margot Kidder

Here’s a curated selection of her more resonant quotations:

• “Go for it, see what you can do, guys, why not?”

• “Nudity in the flesh doesn’t bother me. But having my mind uncovered — that scares the hell out of me.”

• “With any group of people in life, sad things happen, and crazy things, and happy things. When you’re in the public eye, it’s just amplified, that’s all.”

• “I went to work and did a lot of homework about what was wrong with me.”

• “When you finally end something like Superman and then find yourself world-famous, it’s pretty weird … Fame is weird, is what it really is.”

• “I had always thought of Chris as my kid brother … watching how this kid … had affected so many peoples lives around the world was incredible.”

• “I remember laughing an inordinate amount of time. … Setting up scenes … is really fun. How could you not laugh?”

These quotes reflect her self-awareness, humor, compassion, and a willingness to speak truth even when it was hard.

Lessons from Margot Kidder

• Embrace vulnerability: Kidder taught that mental health struggles are not shameful—they are part of the human experience to be acknowledged and addressed.

• Use platform for purpose: She used her notoriety to speak on causes she cared about, even at personal risk.

• Balance strength and fragility: Her career shows that powerful performances often arise from accepting complexity, not hiding weakness.

• Persistence matters: Despite public breakdowns and career slowdowns, she continued to act, speak, and engage meaningfully.

• Authenticity over artifice: Her quotes and choices reveal someone striving to remain genuine in a world of masks and illusions.

Conclusion

Margot Kidder’s life was neither fairy tale nor tragedy alone, but a powerful combination of ambition, talent, struggle, and activism. She remains best remembered as Lois Lane—the intrepid, intelligent, human foil to Superman—but her legacy is richer: an advocate for mental health, an artist who confronted addiction and stigma, and a voice speaking out for justice, environment, and compassion. Her humor, her candor, and her luminous presence make her memory enduring and her example meaningful.