Jean Marsh

Biography

Jean Marsh was an English actress and writer who grew up in Stoke Newington, London. She appeared frequently on British and American television during the 1950s and 1960s, and had three roles in Doctor Who, including Sara Kingdom, one of the First Doctor's companions, and a villain facing the Seventh Doctor. With Eileen Atkins she created Upstairs, Downstairs and played Rose Buck, the maid, across its original run from 1971 to 1975, winning a 1975 Emmy for lead actress in a drama series and receiving three further nominations for the part. Marsh later reprised the role in the BBC revival that began in 2010. Her film work included Frenzy (1972), Dark Places (1973), The Eagle Has Landed (1976), The Changeling (1980), Return to Oz (1985), and Willow (1988), while Fatherland (1994) brought her a CableACE award for supporting actress. She and Atkins also created The House of Eliott in 1991.

90years old at death

Born July 1, 1934Stoke Newington
Died April 13, 2025London
Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
Also credited as Jean Lyndsey Torren Marsh

Movie Career

Films: 9
Career span: 38 years1972 to 2010

Genres

Adventure44%, 4 films
Drama44%, 4 films
Fantasy33%, 3 films
Thriller33%, 3 films
Family22%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

Behind the camera
Marsh and Eileen Atkins co-created Upstairs, Downstairs, and Marsh played the house parlormaid Rose Buck for the entire original run from 1971 to 1975.
Behind the camera
Marsh and Atkins created The House of Eliott, broadcast from 1991 to 1994, and Marsh wrote some episodes but did not act in it.

Jean Marsh movies on Netflix

The Heavy2010IMDb rating 4.9as Mrs. Mason
Fatherland1994IMDb rating 6.4as Anna Von Hagen
Danny the Champion of the World1989IMDb rating 6.7as Miss Hunter
Willow1988IMDb rating 7.2as Queen Bavmorda
Return to Oz1985IMDb rating 6.7as Nurse Wilson / Mombi
The Changeling1980IMDb rating 7.1as Joanna Russell
The Eagle Has Landed1976IMDb rating 6.9as Joanna Grey
Dark Places1973IMDb rating 5.8as Victoria
Frenzy1972IMDb rating 7.4as Monica Barling

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Return to Oz1985 Adventure, Family, Fantasyas Nurse Wilson / Mombi
IMDb rating 6.735K votes
Willow1988 Action, Adventure, Dramaas Queen Bavmorda
IMDb rating 7.2139K votes
The Eagle Has Landed1976as Joanna Grey
IMDb rating 6.928K votes
Frenzy1972as Monica Barling
IMDb rating 7.454K votes
Fatherland1994as Anna Von Hagen
IMDb rating 6.46.7K votes
The Changeling1980as Joanna Russell
IMDb rating 7.145K votes
Dark Places1973as Victoria
IMDb rating 5.81.6K votes
The Heavy2010as Mrs. Mason
IMDb rating 4.92.2K votes

Worked with

Jean Marsh shares two films with Christopher Lee, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Christopher Lee

John Woodvine

Michael Caine

Donald Sutherland

Robert Duvall

Donald Pleasence

Ron HowardDirector, 1 film

Alfred HitchcockDirector, 1 film Peter MedakDirector, 1 film

Films together

Christopher Lee2 films together, 1973 to 2010
Christopher Lee's page
- The Heavy2010IMDb rating 4.9Marsh as Mrs. MasonLee as Mr. Mason
- Dark Places1973IMDb rating 5.8Marsh as VictoriaLee as Dr. Ian Mandeville
John Woodvine2 films together, 1989 to 1994
John Woodvine's page
- Fatherland1994IMDb rating 6.4Marsh as Anna Von HagenWoodvine as Luther
- Danny the Champion of the World1989IMDb rating 6.7Marsh as Miss HunterWoodvine as Tallon
Michael Caine1 film together, 1976
Michael Caine's page
- The Eagle Has Landed1976IMDb rating 6.9Marsh as Joanna GreyCaine as Colonel Steiner
Donald Sutherland1 film together, 1976
Donald Sutherland's page
- The Eagle Has Landed1976IMDb rating 6.9Marsh as Joanna GreySutherland as Liam Devlin
Robert Duvall1 film together, 1976
Robert Duvall's page
- The Eagle Has Landed1976IMDb rating 6.9Marsh as Joanna GreyDuvall as Colonel Radl
Donald Pleasence1 film together, 1976
Donald Pleasence's page
- The Eagle Has Landed1976IMDb rating 6.9Marsh as Joanna GreyPleasence as Himmler
Ron HowardDirector, 1 film, 1988
All films by Ron Howard
- Willow1988IMDb rating 7.2Marsh as Queen Bavmorda
Alfred HitchcockDirector, 1 film, 1972
All films by Alfred Hitchcock
- Frenzy1972IMDb rating 7.4Marsh as Monica Barling
Peter MedakDirector, 1 film, 1980
All films by Peter Medak
- The Changeling1980IMDb rating 7.1Marsh as Joanna Russell

Awards

Two awards and honors from 1975 to 2012, one of them major.

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Jean Marsh's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Emmy Awards
1975	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series	Upstairs, Downstairs	Won
Other honors
2012	Officer of the Order of the British Empire		Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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