Remembering Jean Marsh

Jean Marsh the accomplished actress and writer, has died aged 90…

Jean is most likely best known for her role in ITV series Upstairs, Downstairs. which she helped devise and pitch to London Weekend Television alongside Eileen Atkins, with contributions from John Hawkesworth and John Whitney.

The period drama launched in 1971 and ran through to 1975 with Marsh playing Rose Buck, a maid who became one of the show’s most memorable characters. The series focused on the lives of both the aristocratic Bellamy family (upstairs) and their servants (downstairs) in early 20th century London. Upstairs, Downstairs became an international success, winning numerous awards including Emmys, BAFTAs, and a Golden Globe. She won seven Emmy awards for her part in the series, including an Outstanding Lead Actress award and a Peabody Award.

There was also a memorable sketch by Stanley Baxter ‘Upstaged Downstairs’ that noted the talent ‘below stairs’ was of a better quality than those performing ‘upstairs’.

Jean Lyndsey Torren Marsh was born on the 1st of July 1934 in London, England. She grew up in a working-class family in the suburb of Palmers Green, North London. Her father was a printer, and her mother was a barmaid. Marsh trained in performing arts at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Jean Marsh was briefly married to actor Jon Pertwee (the third Doctor in Doctor Who) from 1955 to 1960.

Early acting work for Jean began in the 1950s where she appeared in small film roles and television drama series. She made her mark with appearances in series like The Twilight Zone and Doctor Who, where she played several characters, including Sara Kingdom, a companion of the First Doctor. Other parts include in BBC highland saga Monarch of the Glen and movies such as The Eagle Has Landed (1976) and Willow (1988).

She reprised her role as Rose in the 2010 revival of Upstairs, Downstairs. however, meddling by BBC ‘executives’ saw the show only have a brief revival.

In addition to acting, Marsh forged a career as a writer. She authored or co-authored several books, including those connected to Upstairs, Downstairs. Her writing often explored themes of class and the lives of women in historical settings. Along with Eileen they also created BBC fashion period saga The House of Eliott in the 1990s.

She also turned her hand to comedy with Yorkshire Television‘s sitcom No Strings and presenting for Anglia Television in the 1990s.

She suffered a stroke in 2011 but made a recovery and returned to work for a number of years following. Jean Marsh died aged 90 at her home in London on Sunday (April 13th) following complications with dementia.