News has sadly broken that the British actress and producer Jean Marsh has passed away at the age of 90. She is best-known as the creator and star of the classic British TV series Upstairs, Downstairs (a rare UK show which was a big hit in the USA), and for playing the role of Doctor Who companion Sara Kingdom.
Marsh was born in Stoke Newington, London in 1934. Growing up during World War II, she showed an aptitude for acting, singing and dance, especially ballet. She attended theatre school and trained hard for an acting career, with her parents' blessing. She made her screen debut at 18 in the British TV movie The Infinite Shoeblack (1952). She made numerous appearances on British screens and stages through the 1950s before going to the United States in 1959 to star in a John Gielgud play on Broadway, a fresh take on Much Ado About Nothing. Whilst in the States she appeared in some American TV episodes, including an episode of The Twilight Zone. In 1963 she played Octavia in the Elizabeth Taylor version of Cleopatra.
In 1965 she was cast in the role of Princess Joanna, the sister of King Richard the Lionheart, in the Doctor Who serial The Crusade. She impressed the production team with her performance so much they invited her back later that year to play Sara Kingdom. Although she only appears in one story, The Daleks' Masterplan, that story (made up of twelve episodes) is the single longest Doctor Who story ever made (the 1986 season was made up of a single fourteen-episode serial, but in reality that was four separate stories presented under a single title with a linking device). Her nine-episode run was longer than that of previous companion Katarina. Sara Kingdom was an unusual companion, being a futuristic, 41st Century special forces operative introduced by killing the Doctor's ally Brett Vyon (Nicholas Courtney), having been tricked into thinking he's a traitor. The Doctor convinces Sara of his good intentions and recruits her into helping in his battle against the Daleks. In a shocking move, Sara is brutally killed in the final episode when the Daleks' "Time Destructor" is activated and ages her to death (the Doctor is caught in the blast but survives due to his much greater lifespan, though fanon would later suggest it contributed to his first regeneration the following season).
As one of only three companions in the show's history to be definitively killed off, Sara would occasionally be mentioned in later stories, even in the comeback era, as an example of when the Doctor gets things wrong.
In 1989 she returned to Doctor Who to play the role of the evil "sorceress" Morgaine; she was reunited with Nicholas Courtney, now playing his traditional Doctor Who role of Brigadier Alastair Lethbridge-Stewart of UNIT. Courtney greeted her by saying, "We've both been in Doctor Who before and you killed me!" Marsh later had a cameo on the show's 50th anniversary special An Adventure in Space and Time about the real-life genesis of the show.
In 1970-71 Marsh worked with fellow actress Eileen Atkins on creating a new TV project, with the idea of focusing on the lives of a posh family in a period drama and their lower-class servants. Upstairs, Downstairs launched in 1971 and was an immediate, huge hit. The show ran for five seasons and 68 episodes. It aired in the USA as part of the PBS Masterpiece Theatre slot and became a critical and commercial success, a huge rarity for a UK show. The show won eight Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, as well as two BAFTAs and a Peabody. Marsh created and produced the show, and also starred as Rose Buck, the head maid of the house.
In 2010 the show was relaunched as a sequel and ran for two seasons and nine episodes, with Marsh reprising her role. However, the show was overshadowed by the launch of Downton Abbey on an opposing channel, which went on to be a much bigger success with a very similar premise. Marsh reflected on the situation: "It might be a coincidence, and I might be the Queen of Belgium!" Marsh had previously worked with Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellows on Julian Fellows Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder.
In 1991 she co-created the television series The House of Eliott, about fashion designers in the 1920s. It was a big success for the BBC, running for three seasons and 34 episodes, though it is probably more fondly remembered for the long-running French & Saunders comedy skit mocking the show, House of Idiot (in the final instalment, the entire cast turns up and berate the pair for their irreverence). Marsh created the show and contributed ideas, but declined to appear.
Marsh had numerous other roles of interest; her other primary genre contribution was probably playing Queen Bavmorda, the main villain of the 1988 movie Willow. She briefly reprised her role in the 2022 TV sequel series. She also played the role of Mombi in Return to Oz (1985), as well appearing in Jane Eyre (1970) and The Eagle Has Landed (1976). Her TV roles were vastly more numerous, appearing in both British and American shows including Danger Man, The Saint, I Spy, Adam Adamant Lives!, Department S, UFO, The Persuaders!, The Waltons, Hawaii Five-O, The Love Boat, Murder She Wrote, The Tomorrow People, Holby City and Sense & Sensibility.
Jean Marsh had a minor stroke in 2011, which she recovered quickly from but did limit the roles she chose to take on. Towards the end of her life she was diagnosed with dementia. She passed away at her home in London.
Jean Marsh was an extremely-respected British actress and producer. Her performances were always memorable and powerful, and co-creating two hit TV shows is a very impressive achievement, not to mention "blatantly inspiring" one of the biggest TV shows of all time. She will be missed.
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