Name

Jean Lyndsay Torren Marsh

Date of Birth 

July 1st, 1934

 Awards 

 

 

 
Year Result Award Category/Recipient(s)
1975 Won Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
for: "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971)
1976 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series
for: "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971)
1974 Nominated Emmy Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
for: "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971)
1977 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV Actress - Drama
for: "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971)
1975 Nominated Golden Globe Best TV Actress - Drama
for: "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971)
1990 Nominated Saturn Award Best Supporting Actress
for: Willow (1988)

 

Biography 

 

 
    London born Jean Marsh (Princess Mombi / Nurse Wilson) rose to fame in her Emmy-winning portrayal of head parlor maid in the internationally successful television series "Upstairs, Downstairs," which she co-created with Eileen Atkins.  But there were many successes before Upstairs. 

     While taking dancing and mime classes, as therapy for a childhood illness, Jean got interested in show business.   So she attended a charm school and then when on to work as a model.  And she started acting in repertory and took voice lessons. Her repertory work was supplemented by a number of film appearances as a dancer. She then spent three years in America, appearing in Sir John Gielgud's Broadway production of "Much Ado About Nothing". As well as numerous TV shows, including an episode of "The Twilight Zone."  Returning to London, she won roles on stage, film and TV.  It was during this period that she appeared in "Doctor Who" (1963), first as Princess Joanna in "The Crusade" and then as Sara Kingdom in "The Daleks' Master Plan." In the early 1970s she co-created and starred in LWT's "Upstairs Downstairs", for which she was most famous.  Afterward she went on to Star as the Evil Princess Mombi in the Disney movie "Return to Oz".  And turned around a few years later playing another evil character, time she was an Evil Queen in "Willow". In 2000 Marsh had a role in CBBC drama "The Ghosthunter", as the evil Mrs. Croker.  "The Ghosthunter" ran for three series from 2000-2002.  She has also made an appearance in the "Blue Peter Quest" in 2003 as the villain, Styker.  And Today she lives in Boxford Berkshire.


     Her Broadway stage apperances incude "Habeus Corpus" and "Whose life is it anyway?".  She also starred in "The importance of being Earnest", and "Travesties" at Los Angeles Mark Taper Forum.

 Role in film

Jean played, Nurse Wilson, and Princess Mombi.

 Filmography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Actress:
  1. Alice (2008) .... Queen of Hearts
  2. The Heavy (2008)  .... Mrs. Mason
  3. "Sense and Sensibility" (2008) (mini) TV mini-series .... Mrs. Ferrars
  4. Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder - The Case of the Croydon Poisonings (2005) (TV) .... Violet Sidney
  5. "Doctors" .... Liz (1 episode, 2003)
        - Today's the Day (2003) TV episode .... Liz
  6. The Mayor of Casterbridge (2003) (TV) .... Furmity Woman
  7. "Holby City" .... Vera Engells (1 episode, 2002)
    ... aka Holby (UK: informal short title)
        - Pills and Frills (2002) TV episode .... Vera Engells
  8. Monarch (2000) .... The Queens
  9. "Ghosthunter" (2000) TV series .... Mrs. Croker
  10. "Kavanagh QC" .... Lady Tibbit (1 episode, 1999)
        - End Game (1999) TV episode .... Lady Tibbit
  11. The Pale Horse (1997) (TV) .... Thyrza Grey
    ... aka Agatha Christie's 'The Pale Horse'
  12. "Dangerfield" .... Mrs. Matthews (1 episode, 1997)
        - Guilt (1997) TV episode .... Mrs. Matthews
  13. The Ring (1996) (TV)
    ... aka Danielle Steel's The Ring (USA: complete title)
  14. Fatherland (1994) (TV) .... Anna von Hagen
  15. "The Tomorrow People" .... Doctor Culex (5 episodes, 1994)
        - The Culex Experiment: Part 5 (1994) TV episode .... Doctor Culex
        - The Culex Experiment: Part 4 (1994) TV episode .... Doctor Culex
        - The Culex Experiment: Part 3 (1994) TV episode .... Doctor Culex
        - The Culex Experiment: Part 2 (1994) TV episode .... Doctor Culex
        - The Culex Experiment: Part 1 (1994) TV episode .... Doctor Culex
  16. "The All New Alexei Sayle Show" .... Matron in 'Psycho Ward 11' (6 episodes, 1994)
  17. "Murder, She Wrote" .... Glenda Highsmith (1 episode, 1993)
        - Murder in White (1993) TV episode .... Glenda Highsmith
  18. Bejewelled (1991) (TV) .... Barbara
  19. Adam Bede (1991) (TV) .... Lisbeth Bede
  20. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1989) (TV) .... Morgana
  21. "Doctor Who" .... Sara / ... (12 episodes, 1965-1989)
  22. Danny the Champion of the World (1989) (TV) .... Miss Hunter
  23. "No Strings" (1989) TV series .... Rosie Tindall
  24. Act of Will (1989) (TV) .... Eliza Crowther
  25. Willow (1988) .... Queen Bavmorda
  26. Return to Oz (1985) .... Nurse Wilson & Mombi
  27. "Tales from the Darkside" .... Joan Matlin (1 episode, 1985)
        - Answer Me (1985) TV episode .... Joan Matlin
  28. The Corsican Brothers (1985) (TV) .... Mazzere
    ... aka Vendetta (Europe: English title)
  29. "Master of the Game" (1984) (mini) TV mini-series .... Mrs. Talley
  30. "The Love Boat" (1 episode, 1983)
        - Japan Cruise: When Worlds Collide/The Captain and the Geisha/The Lottery Winners/The Emperor's Fortune: Part 2 (1983) TV episode
  31. "9 to 5" .... Roz Keith (1 episode, 1982-1983)
        - When Violet Gets Blue (????) TV episode .... Roz Keith
  32. See China and Die (1981) (TV) .... Sally Hackman
    ... aka Momma the Detective (USA)
  33. Goliath Awaits (1981) (TV) .... Dr. Goldman
  34. "Trapper John, M.D." .... Claire (1 episode, 1981)
        - Earthquake (1981) TV episode .... Claire
  35. The Changeling (1980) .... Joanna Russell
    ... aka Enfant du diable, L' (Canada: French title)
  36. Jack-a-boy (1980)
  37. "Hawaii Five-O" .... Sister Harmony (1 episode, 1978)
  38. "The Waltons" .... Hilary von Kleist (1 episode, 1977)
        - The Hiding Place (1977) TV episode .... Hilary von Kleist
  39. "International Festival of Animation" (1977) TV series .... Presenter
  40. The Eagle Has Landed (1976) .... Joanna Grey
  41. "Upstairs, Downstairs" .... Rose (54 episodes, 1971-1975)
  42. "The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes" .... Mrs. Vanrenen (1 episode, 1973)
        - The Looting of the Species Room (1973) TV episode .... Mrs. Vanrenen
  43. Dark Places (1973) .... Victoria
  44. Frenzy (1972) .... Monica Barling
  45. "The Befrienders" .... Miranda Rawling (1 episode, 1972)
        - Nobody Understands Miranda (1972) TV episode .... Miranda Rawling
  46. "The Persuaders!" .... Nicola (1 episode, 1972)
        - Five Miles to Midnight (1972) TV episode .... Nicola
  47. "Play for Today" .... Madeleine Walsh (1 episode, 1971)
     
  48. Jane Eyre (1970) (TV) .... Mrs. Rochester
  49. "UFO" .... Janna Wade (1 episode, 1970)
  50. "Department S" .... Agatha (1 episode, 1969)
  51. "The Expert" (1 episode, 1969)
  52. What's in It for Me (1969) (TV)
  53. "Thirty-Minute Theatre" (1 episode, 1968)
  54. "The Saint" .... Ann / ... (4 episodes, 1964-1968)
  55. A Bit of Crucifixion, Father (1968) (TV) .... Edna
  56. "Detective" .... Julie Oliver (1 episode, 1968)
  57. The Limbo Line (1968) .... Dilys
  58. "Adam Adamant Lives!" .... Lady Lydia (1 episode, 1967)
  59. "I Spy" .... Catherine Faulkner (1 episode, 1967)
  60. "Blackmail" (1 episode, 1966)
  61. "The Informer" (1966) TV series .... Sylvia Parrish
  62. "Gideon's Way" .... Elspeth McRae / ... (2 episodes, 1965)
  63. "The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre" .... Grace
  64. Diary of a Young Man (1964) (TV) .... Fred
  65. Cleopatra (1963) (uncredited) .... Octavia
  66. "ITV Play of the Week" .... Margo Robertson (1 episode, 1963)
  67. Unearthly Stranger (1963) .... Miss Ballard
  68. Heart to Heart (1962) (TV) .... Peggy Mann
  69. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961) (uncredited)
  70. "Disneyland" .... Andrienne (2 episodes, 1961)
  71. The Rebel (1961) (uncredited) .... Strange woman at party
  72. "Danger Man" .... Kim Russell (1 episode, 1961)
  73. "The Twilight Zone" .... Alicia (1 episode, 1959)
  74. "Play of the Week" (1 episode, 1959)
  75. The Moon and Sixpence (1959) (TV) .... Ata
  76. "The Third Man" .... Helene (1 episode, 1959)
  77. Back to Back (1959) (TV)
  78. The Limping Man (1953) .... Landlady's Daughter

 Alternative Names

     N / A

 Where are they now?

Filming, as the Role of the Queen of hearts in the new upcoming Alice Movie.  Based on the American Magee video game.

 Trivia 

 
  • A cabaret singer and photo model in her early years while studying acting and mime.
  • Co-created (with actress Eileen Atkins), her most memorable series "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971) which ran from 1971 to 1975. The two actresses later co-created "The House of Eliott" (1991) for BBC TV.
  • Measurements: 36 1/2-26-37 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
  • Voted for best actress for Battlefield by Readers of Doctor Who Magazine.
  • Along with Lalla Ward, she is one of two actresses to play a companion in "Doctor Who" (1963) who was once married to an actor who played the Doctor. She portrayed the short-lived companion Sara Kingdom from December 1965 to January 1966 in the William Hartnell serial "The Daleks' Master Plan". Prior to the series' creation, she was married to Jon Pertwee, who played the Third Doctor on the series, from 1955 to 1960.

 

Click to go Back:

 

 

Jean Marsh

 

 

Biography

    Born Jean Lyndsay Torren Marsh in London on 1 July 1934. 

 

Interesting Stories

         In the movies Return to Oz & Willow Jean used a kind of growling voice to portray the evilness of the characters.  When in real life she is actually one of the nicest sounding British ladies you will ever meet.

        When she was first playing the role of Mombi Jean marsh was not doing her evil growling voice as it turned out in the movie.  One day during a break in the shooting of the film Jean Marsh and young actress Fairuza Balk were playing a game.  They were playing improve and Jean gives out this growl to little Fairest in play.  When Walter Murch (the Director) hears this her said "That's it!"  "That's what I want you do for Mombi."  And that is where Mombi's evil Growl was Born.

         

Biography information was obtained from IMDB and wikipedia

 

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