Acting · Stoke Newington, London, England, UK · Born July 1, 1934
Jean Lyndsey Torren Marsh (1 July 1934 – 13 April 2025) was an English actress and writer. Born in London, Jean Marsh became interested in show business while taking dancing and mime classes as therapy for a childhood illness. After attending a charm school and working as a model, 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" and numerous TV shows, including an episode of "The Twilight Zone"(1959). 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" (1971). Since then she has maintained a very busy career in the theatre, on TV - including a starring role in the US sitcom "9 to 5"(1982) and films such as Return to Oz (1985) and Willow (1988). She also co-created another successful series, "The House of Eliott" (1991).
TVWillow
2022
as Queen Bavmorda
TVGrantchester
2014
as Daisy Livingstone
Outlier
2014
as Lilith Winterbottom
MovieThe Last Post
2011
as Colette
TVUpstairs Downstairs
2010
as Mrs Rose Buck
MovieThe Heavy
2010
as Mrs. Mason
TVCrooked House
2008
as Lady Constance de Momery
TVSense and Sensibility
2008
as Mrs Ferrars
MovieThe 50 Greatest Television Dramas
2007
as Self
TVThe One Show
2006
as Self - Guest
TVSensitive Skin
2005
as Lizzie Galbraith
TVJulian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder
2004
as Violet Sidney
TVThe Paul O'Grady Show
2004
as Self
MovieAfter Upstairs Downstairs
2002
as Self
MovieMonarch
2000
as The Queens
TVThe Ghost Hunter
2000
as Mrs Croker
TVHolby City
1999
as Vera Engells
MovieAgatha Christie's The Pale Horse
1997
as Thyrza Grey
TVKavanagh Q.C.
1995
as Lady Tibbit
MovieFatherland
1994
as Anna von Hagen
TVThe All New Alexei Sayle Show
1994
MovieAdam Bede
1992
as Lisbeth Bede
MovieBejewelled
1991
as Barbara
MovieSesame Street: Sing Yourself Silly!
1990
as Self (archive footage)
MovieA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
1989
as Morgana
MovieDoctor Who: Battlefield
1989
as Morgaine
MovieDanny the Champion of the World
1989
as Miss Hunter
TVNo Strings
1989
as Rosie Tindall
MovieSesame Street: Put Down the Duckie
1988
as Self
MovieWillow
1988
as Queen Bavmorda
MovieReturn to Oz
1985
as Nurse Wilson / Mombi
MovieThe Corsican Brothers
1985
as Mazzere
MovieRoyal Variety Performance 1984
1984
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Glenda Highsmith
TVTales from the Darkside
1984
as Joan Matlin
TVMaster of the Game
1984
as Mrs. Talley
MovieDoctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks
1984
as Sara Kingdom (archive footage) (uncredited)
TV9 to 5
1982
as Roz Keith
TVGoliath Awaits
1981
as Dr. Goldman
MovieSee China and Die
1981
as Sally Hackman
MovieThe Changeling
1980
as Joanna Russell
TVTrapper John, M.D.
1979
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Celia Hoffman
MovieThe Eagle Has Landed
1976
as Joanna Grey
MovieUFO: Radar contact... They're landing!
1974
MovieDark Places
1973
as Victoria
MovieThe Persuaders!
1973
as Nicola
TVThe Waltons
1972
as Hilary von Kleist
MovieFrenzy
1972
as Monica Barling
MovieA Day in the Death of Joe Egg
1972
as Mother on moonrocket
MovieSkin Deep
1971
as Madeleine Walsh
TVUpstairs, Downstairs
1971
as Rose Buck
TVThe Rivals of Sherlock Holmes
1971
as Mrs. Vanrenen
TVThe Persuaders!
1971
as Nicola
MovieJane Eyre
1970
as Mrs. Rochester
TVPlay for Today
1970
as Madeleine Walsh
TVUFO
1970
as Janna
TVDepartment S
1969
as Agatha Pollen
MovieThe Limbo Line
1969
A Bit of Crucifixion, Father
1968
as Edna
TVHawaii Five-O
1968
as Sister Harmony
TVThe Expert
1968
as Sybil Houghton
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
MovieCharlie Bubbles
1968
as Waitress (uncredited)
TVThe Informer
1966
as Sylvia Parrish
MovieDoctor Who: The Daleks' Master Plan
1965
as Sara Kingdom
TVThirty-Minute Theatre
1965
as Alex
MovieDoctor Who: The Crusade
1965
as Joanna
TVGideon's Way
1965
as Sandra Casey
MovieFace of a Stranger
1964
as Grace
Story Parade
1964
as Lorraine
TVDetective
1964
as Julie Oliver
TVDoctor Who
1963
as Sara Kingdom
MovieUnearthly Stranger
1963
as Miss Ballard
MovieCleopatra
1963
as Octavia (uncredited)
MovieHeart to Heart
1962
as Peggy Mann
TVThe Saint
1962
as Anne Kirby
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
MovieThe Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
1961
as Party Guest (uncredited)
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
MovieThe Horsemasters
1961
as Andrienne
MovieThe Rebel
1961
as Strange Woman at Party (Uncredited)
TVDanger Man
1960
as Kim Russell
MovieBack to Back
1959
as Caroline
MovieThe Moon and Sixpence
1959
as Ata
TVThe Twilight Zone
1959
as Alicia
TVThe Third Man
1959
as Helene
TVEdgar Wallace Mysteries
1959
as Grace
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Andrienne
MovieThe Love Lottery
1954
as Dancer in Sally's Dream (uncredited)
MovieThe Limping Man
1953
as Landlady's Daughter
TVOmnibus
1952
as Mimi in 'La Boheme'
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Mazzere
