Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person
Jean Lyndsey Torren Marsh (1 July 1934 – 13 April 2025) was an English actress and writer. She co-created and starred in the ITV series Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975), for which she won the 1975 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Rose Buck. She reprised the role in the BBC's revival of the series (2010–2012).
Marsh co-created the television series The House of Eliott in 1991. Her film appearances include Cleopatra (1963), Frenzy (1972), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), The Changeling (1980), Return to Oz (1985), Willow (1988), Fatherland (1994) and Monarch (2000). She is also known for three roles in Doctor Who: as Joan of England in The Crusade; Sara Kingdom, a companion of the First Doctor; and a villain opposite the Seventh Doctor. She was briefly married to Jon Pertwee, who played the Third Doctor in the series, from 1955 to 1960.
Early lifeEdit
Marsh was born on 1 July 1934, and grew up in Stoke Newington, London, one of two daughters born to Henry and Emmeline (née Bexley) Marsh.<ref name = Gates>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="screenonline"/> She studied ballet, singing, and acting from an early age.<ref name = Gates/>
CareerEdit
During the 1950s and 1960s, Marsh made many appearances on British and American television, including an episode of The Twilight Zone called "The Lonely" (1959),<ref name="tv">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in which she portrayed a lifelike robot; The Moon and Sixpence (1959),<ref name="tv"/> opposite Laurence Olivier and Denholm Elliott; The Wonderful World of Disney (1961); an episode of the series Danger Man (1961),<ref name="tv"/> entitled "Name, Date and Place" as Kim Russell, Gideon's Way (1965);<ref name="tv"/> I Spy (1967);<ref name="tv"/> in four episodes of The Saint (1964–1968);<ref name="tv"/> and one episode of UFO ("Exposed" 1970, as Janna).<ref name="tv"/> She was also a regular alongside Ian Hendry in the ITV series The Informer (1966–67).<ref name="tv"/>
Marsh appeared several times in the BBC series Doctor Who.<ref name="tv"/> She first appeared alongside William Hartnell in the 1965 serial The Crusade as Lady Joanna, the sister of Richard I (The Lionheart). She returned later that year as companion Sara Kingdom in 9 episodes of the 12-part serial The Daleks' Master Plan. Marsh reprised the role in the audio plays Home Truths (2008),<ref name="tv"/> The Drowned World (2009),<ref name="tv"/> The Guardian of the Solar System (2010), The Five Companions (2011), The Anachronauts (2012), The Light At The End (2013), An Ordinary Life (2014) and The Sontarans (2016).<ref name="tv"/> She also appeared in the 1989 television serial Battlefield as Morgaine, as well as the 2007 audio play The Wishing Beast. She made an un-billed cameo appearance in the 2013 docudrama about Doctor Who, An Adventure in Space and Time.<ref name="tv"/>
Marsh featured as Bertha Mason Rochester in the George C. Scott-Susannah York version of Jane Eyre, directed by Delbert Mann. The film was released theatrically in the United Kingdom in 1970 and shown in the United States on NBC television in 1971.
Marsh's 2000 (re-released in cinemas in 2014) film about the death of Henry VIII, Monarch.<ref name="tv"/>
With Eileen Atkins, Marsh created the British period television drama Upstairs, Downstairs,<ref name="tv"/> and played the role of the house parlourmaid Rose Buck for the duration of the series, from 1971 until 1975. The programme was screened internationally and received numerous awards including two BAFTA Awards, two Royal Television Society awards, eight Emmys and a Golden Globe. Marsh received a Royal Television Society award in 1971 and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her role in 1975, and was nominated for the same award on three more occasions – 1974, 1976, and (for the show's revival) in 2011. She also received awards from the American Drama Centre and American Drama Critics Circle for the role as well as two Golden Globe Award nominations.
She and Atkins created The House of Eliott, another television series broadcast between 1991 and 1994. This time, Marsh did not act in the series, but she did write some of the episodes.
Marsh's film credits include the Tony Hancock film The Rebel (1961),<ref name="tv"/> Cleopatra (1963)<ref name="tv"/> as Octavia, Unearthly Stranger (1964),<ref name="tv"/> Charlie Bubbles (1967),<ref name="tv"/> The Limbo Line (1968),<ref name="tv"/> Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972),<ref name="screenonline"/> Dark Places (1973),<ref name="tv"/> The Eagle Has Landed (1976),<ref name="screenonline"/> The Changeling (1980)<ref name="tv"/> and the fantasy films Return to Oz (1985)<ref name="screenonline"/> and Willow (1988).<ref name="screenonline">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1994, she starred in a villain role in the Nickelodeon/Thames Television remake of The Tomorrow People. Her television films include Goliath Awaits (1981),<ref name="tv"/> See China and Die (1981),<ref name="tv"/> Master of the Game (1984), The Corsican Brothers (1985),<ref name="tv"/> A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1989),<ref name="tv"/> Fatherland (1994) for which she won a CableACE award for supporting actress, and The Pale Horse (1997).<ref name="tv"/> From 1982 to 1983, she portrayed the part of Roz Keith in the American sitcom 9 to 5.<ref name="tv"/>
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Marsh served as the presenter for International Animation Festival, an American public television series featuring award-winning animated short films from around the world. The 26-episode series was broadcast in 1975 on PBS.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
From 2000 until 2002, Marsh appeared in The Ghost Hunter. Her many stage credits included the West End stage revival of Boeing Boeing at the Comedy Theatre in 2007 and in Peter Hall's production of The Portrait of a Lady in 2008. She made an appearance in the 2008 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility; played the recurring character Lizzie Galbraith alongside Joanna Lumley as Davina Jackson (the lead character) in Babycow Productions' Sensitive Skin, which aired on BBC Two in 2005 and 2007. She appeared in December 2008 in a role written for her by Mark Gatiss, in BBC Four's Crooked House.<ref name="tv"/>
A three-part revival of Upstairs, Downstairs was commissioned by the BBC with the first episode broadcast on BBC One on 26 December 2010. Marsh reprised her role as Rose Buck, who had returned to London to run an agency for domestic servants after a period spent nursing her mother in Suffolk. Eileen Atkins, who co-created the original series with Marsh, also starred in the revived series. It was set in the same fictional London address as the original ITV series, 165 Eaton Place, resuming in 1936.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Subsequently, a six-part second series was commissioned, and began transmission in February 2012 with Marsh's character appearing less frequently due to the stroke suffered by the actress.<ref name=stroke/>
Marsh wrote several books: Fiennders Abbey, The House of Eliott, and Iris.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Personal life and deathEdit
Marsh was married to the actor Jon Pertwee from 1955 until their divorce in 1960.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>GRO Register of Marriages: JUN 1955 5f 63 MIDDLESEX S. – Jon D. R. Pertwee = Jeann L. T. Marsh</ref><ref>GRO Register of Marriages: SEP 1960 6a 1385 WYCOMBE – Jon D. R. Pertwee = Ingeborg R. Rhosa</ref> She had relationships with Albert Finney, Kenneth Haigh, and film director Michael Lindsay-Hogg.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On 3 October 2011, the BBC announced that Marsh had suffered a minor stroke and would miss the beginning of the second series of the revived Upstairs, Downstairs.<ref name=stroke>Template:Cite news</ref> She was ultimately only able to appear in two short scenes and a third series was not commissioned.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Marsh died from complications of dementia at her London home, on 13 April 2025, at the age of 90.<ref name = Gates/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
HonoursEdit
Marsh was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to drama.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
FilmographyEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby | Sewing Girl | Uncredited | |
| 1953 | Will Any Gentleman...? | Dancer | ||
| The Limping Man | The Landlady's Daughter | |||
| 1954 | The Love Lottery | Dancer in Sally's Dream | Uncredited | |
| 1961 | Call Me Genius | Strange Woman at Party | ||
| The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone | Party Guest | |||
| 1963 | Cleopatra | Octavia | ||
| Unearthly Stranger | Miss Ballard | |||
| 1964 | Face of a Stranger | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
|
| 1967 | Charlie Bubbles | Waitress | Uncredited | |
| 1968 | The Limbo Line | Dilys | ||
| 1970 | Jane Eyre | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
|
| 1972 | Frenzy | citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
|
| 1974 | Dark Places | Victoria | ||
| 1976 | The Eagle Has Landed | Joanna Grey | ||
| 1980 | The Changeling | Joanna Russell | ||
| 1985 | Return to Oz | Mombi/Nurse Wilson | ||
| 1988 | Willow | Queen Bavmorda | ||
| 2009 | The Heavy | Mrs. Mason |
TelevisionEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | The Infinite Shoeblack | televised play on the BBCTemplate:R | |
| 1956 | ITV Television Playhouse | Christine | Episode: "Woman in a Dressing Gown" |
| 1958 | Omnibus | Mimi in La bohème | Episode: "What Makes Opera Grand?" |
| 1959 | The Third Man | Helene | Episode: "The Angry Young Man" |
| The Moon and Sixpence | Ata | TV film | |
| The Twilight Zone | Alicia | Episode: "The Lonely" | |
| 1961 | Danger Man | Kim Russell | Episode: "Name, Date, Place" |
| The Magical World of Disney | Andrienne | Episode: The Horsemasters | |
| 1962 | Heart to Heart (The Largest Theatre in the World) | Peggy Mann | TV play |
| 1963–1964 | ITV Play of the Week | Dorothy Lemonade/Margo Robertson | 2 episodes |
| 1964 | The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theater | Grace | Episode: "Face of a Stranger" |
| 1964–1968 | The Saint | Various | 4 episodes |
| 1965 | Doctor Who | Joanna | Serial: The Crusade |
| 1965 | ITV Sunday Night Drama | Sheila | Episode: "Suspense Hour: Curtains for Sheila" |
| 1965–1966 | Gideon C.I.D. | Elspeth McCrae/Sandra Casey | 2 episodes |
| 1965–1966 | Doctor Who | Sara Kingdom | Serial: The Daleks' Master Plan |
| 1966–1967 | The Informer | Sylvia Parish | 17 episodes |
| 1967 | I Spy | Katherine Faulkner | Episode: "The War Lord" |
| Adam Adamant Lives! | Lady Lydia | Episode: "Face in a Mirror" | |
| 1968 | Detective | Julie Oliver | Episode: "The Deadly Climate" |
| The Wednesday Play | Edna | Episode: "A Bit of Crucixion, Father" | |
| Thirty-Minute Theatre | Alex | Episode: "Cross Examine" | |
| 1969 | The Expert | Sybil Houghton | Episode: "The Yellow Torrish" |
| Department S | Agatha Pollen | Episode: "The Perfect Operation" | |
| The Root of All Evil? | Anabel | Episode: "What's in It For Me?" | |
| 1970 | UFO | Janna | Episode: "Exposed" |
| 1970–1972 | ITV Saturday Night Theatre | Mrs. Philpott/Jenny | 2 episodes |
| 1971 | The Persuaders! | Nicola | Episode: "Five Miles to Midnight" |
| Play for Today | Madeline Walsh | Episode: "Skin Deep" | |
| 1971–1975 | Upstairs, Downstairs | Rose Buck | 54 episodes, also co-creator |
| 1972 | The Befrienders | Miranda Rawling | Episode: "Nobody Understands Miranda" |
| 1973 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes | Mrs. Vanrenen | Episode: "The Looting of the Specie Room" |
| 1976 | Camera Three | Episode: "Mad About the Boy: A Noel Coward Celebration" | |
| 1977 | The Waltons | Hilary Von Kleist | Episode: "The Hiding Place" |
| 1978 | Hawaii Five-O | Sister Harmony | Episode: "The Miracle Man" |
| 1981 | See China and Die | Sally Hackman | TV film |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Claire Browning | Episode: "Earthquake" | |
| Goliath Awaits | Dr. Goldman | Miniseries; 2 episodes | |
| 1982–1983 | 9 to 5 | Roz Keith | Series regular |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Ceilia Hoffman | Episode: "Japan Cruise" |
| 1984 | Master of the Game | Mrs. Talley | Miniseries; 1 episode |
| 1985 | The Corsican Brothers | Mazzere | TV film |
| Tales from the Darkside | Joan Matlin | Episode: "Answer Me" | |
| 1989 | Danny, the Champion of the World | Miss Hunter | TV film |
| Act of Will | Eliza Crowther | Miniseries; 1 episode | |
| Doctor Who | Morgaine | Serial: Battlefield | |
| 1991–1994 | The House of Eliott | Co-creator | |
| 1992 | Screen One | Lisbeth Bede | Episode: "Adam Bede" |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Glenda Highsmith | Episode: "Murder in White" |
| 1994 | The Tomorrow People | Dr. Culex | Serial: "The Culex Experiment" |
| The All New Alexei Sayle Show | Matron in Psycho Ward 11 | 6 episodes | |
| Fatherland | Anna Von Hogen | TV film | |
| 1996 | The Ring | ||
| 1997 | Dangerfield | Mrs. Matthews | Episode: "Guilt" |
| 1999 | Kavanagh QC | Lady Tibbit | Episode: "End Game" |
| 2000–2002 | The Ghost Hunter | Mrs. Croker | 18 episodes |
| 2002 | Holby City | Vera Engells | Episode: "Pills and Frills" |
| 2003 | The Mayor of Casterbridge | Furmity Woman | TV film |
| Doctors | Liz | Episode: "Today's the Day" | |
| 2005 | Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder | Violet Sidney | Episode: "The Case of the Croydon Poisonings" |
| 2007 | Sensitive Skin | Lizzie Galbraith | Miniseries |
| 2008 | Sense and Sensibility | Mrs. Ferrars | Miniseries; 1 episode |
| Crooked House | Lady Constance de Momery | 2 episodes | |
| 2010–2012 | Upstairs Downstairs | Mrs. Rose Buck | 5 episodes |
| 2013 | An Adventure in Space and Time | Party Guest | Uncredited |
| 2014 | Grantchester | Daisy Livingstone | 1 episode |
| 2022 | Willow | Queen Bavmorda | Episode: "The Whispers of Nockmaar", via archive footage |
TheatreEdit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Much Ado About Nothing | Hero | A Broadway production starring John GielgudTemplate:R |
| 1961 | The Bird of Time | Shirley O'Neill | Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool and Savoy Theatre |
| 1979 | Whose Life Is It Anyway? | Dr. Scott | Trafalgar Theatre |
| 1987 | Let Us Go Then You and I | Narrator | Lyric Theatre |
| 1992 | The Chalk Garden | Miss Madrigal | King's Head Theatre |
| 2006 | The Old Country | Bron | Trafalgar Studios 1, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and other locations |
| 2007–2008 | Boeing Boeing | Bertha | Comedy Theatre |
| 2008 | The Portrait of a Lady | Mrs. Touchett | Theatre Royal, Bath and Rose Theatre |
BooksEdit
- Jean Marsh, The House of Eliott, Sidgwick & Jackson (November 1993), 978–0283061554; St Martin's Press (February 1994), Template:ISBN
- Jean Marsh, Fiennders Keepers, Macmillan (1996), Template:ISBN; St Martin's Press (May 1997), Template:ISBN
- Jean Marsh, Iris, St Martin's Press (July 2000), Template:ISBN; Macmillan (February 2003), Template:ISBN
- Jean Marsh, Fiennders Abbey, Pan (5 August 2011), Template:ISBN
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0550577
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- Jean Marsh(Aveleyman)
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