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Jean Marsh

Jean Marsh

Actor, also writer · Died April 13, 2025, aged 90 · Stoke Newington, London, England, UK

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).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 1, 1934
Died
April 13, 2025 (aged 90)
From
Stoke Newington, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 85 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

What are Jean Marsh's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Power.

Genres

Adventure5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 44th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
21%
Power
21%
Morality
20%
Bonds
13%
Society
11%
Survival
9%
Ideas
4%
Class3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 7 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 2

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 4 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 2

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Ally
1 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3
Shadow
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Dread
7
Joyful
4
Warm
5
Melancholic
5
Other
10

How their films linger

Bittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jean Marsh's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 22 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jean Marsh's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

85 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 10 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Willow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Queen Bavmorda

  • Grantchester(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Daisy Livingstone

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Outlier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Lilith Winterbottom

  • The Last Post (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Colette

  • Upstairs Downstairs(2010)

    Show 9 episodes · Original Series Creator · as Mrs Rose Buck

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • The Heavy(2009)

    as Mrs. Mason

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Crooked House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Constance de Momery

  • Sense & Sensibility(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Ferrars

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Sensitive Skin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lizzie Galbraith

  • Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Violet Sidney

  • Monarch(2000)

    as The Queens

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • The Ghost Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 18 episodes · as Mrs Croker

  • Holby City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Vera Engells

  • The Pale Horse(1997)

    as Thyrza Grey

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Kavanagh QC(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Tibbit

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Fatherland(1994)

    as Anna von Hagen

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The All New Alexei Sayle Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Adam Bede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Lisbeth Bede

  • The House of Eliott (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show Creator

  • Bejewelled(1991)

    as Barbara

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court(1989)

    as Morgana

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Who: Battlefield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Morgaine

  • Danny the Champion of the World(1989)

    as Miss Hunter

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • No Strings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 7 episodes · as Rosie Tindall

  • Willow(1988)

    as Queen Bavmorda

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Return to Oz(1985)

    as Nurse Wilson / Mombi

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Corsican Brothers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Mazzere

  • Royal Variety Performance 1984(1984)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Glenda Highsmith

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Tales from the Darkside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Joan Matlin

  • Master of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 9 episodes · as Mrs. Talley

  • Doctor Who: Resurrection of the Daleks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Sara Kingdom (archive footage) (uncredited)

  • 9 to 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 26 episodes · as Roz Keith

  • Goliath Awaits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dr. Goldman

  • See China and Die(1981)

    as Sally Hackman

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Changeling(1980)

    as Joanna Russell

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Celia Hoffman

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Eagle Has Landed(1976)

    as Joanna Grey

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • UFO: Radar contact... They're landing! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Actor

  • Dark Places(1974)

    as Victoria

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Persuaders! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Nicola

  • The Waltons(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Hilary von Kleist

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • Frenzy(1972)

    as Monica Barling

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • A Day in the Death of Joe Egg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Mother on moonrocket

  • Skin Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Madeleine Walsh

  • Upstairs, Downstairs(1971)

    Show 52 episodes · Creator · Writer · as Rose Buck · as self

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Vanrenen

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • The Persuaders!(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Nicola

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Jane Eyre(1970)

    as Mrs. Rochester

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Madeleine Walsh

  • UFO(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Janna

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Department S (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Agatha Pollen

  • The Limbo Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Actor

  • A Bit of Crucifixion, Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Edna

  • Hawaii Five-O(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Sister Harmony

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Expert (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Sybil Houghton

  • Charlie Bubbles(1968)

    as Waitress (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Informer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 17 episodes · as Sylvia Parrish

  • Doctor Who: The Daleks' Master Plan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Sara Kingdom

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Alex

  • Doctor Who: The Crusade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Joanna

  • Gideon's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Elspeth McCrae · as Sandra Casey

  • Face of a Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Grace

  • Story Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Lorraine

  • Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Julie Oliver

  • Doctor Who(1963)

    Show 8 episodes · as Joanna · as Morgaine · as Sara Kingdom

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Unearthly Stranger(1963)

    as Miss Ballard

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Cleopatra(1963)

    as Octavia (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Heart to Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Peggy Mann

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann · as Anne Kirby · as Helen Phillips · as Maria

  • The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone(1961)

    as Party Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Horsemasters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Andrienne · as Ingrid

  • The Rebel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Strange Woman at Party (Uncredited)

  • Danger Man(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Kim Russell

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Back to Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Caroline

  • The Moon and Sixpence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Ata

  • The Third Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Helene

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Alicia

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Edgar Wallace Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · as Andrienne

  • The Love Lottery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Dancer in Sally's Dream (uncredited)

  • The Limping Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Landlady's Daughter

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Mimi in 'La Boheme'

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Mazzere

Career shape

Star power in the 94th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 85 titles from 1951 to 2022; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

Return to Oz (1985)

$11M worldwide

Highest rated

Upstairs, Downstairs (1971)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19512022

Peak 1984 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting84 of 85: 82 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score72ndWriting1 of 85: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleOther crew2 of 85: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s10 · acting1960s23 · acting1970s16 · 16 acting · 1 crew1980s16 · acting1990s8 · 7 acting · 1 crew2000s6 · acting2010s5 · 5 acting · 1 crew2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 12 roles
6176

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jean Marsh's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th12
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 35 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Royal Variety Performance 1984 (1984)

93rd percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer

Upstairs, Downstairs (1971)

Midcredits 94th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Jean Marsh work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jean Marsh's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Eileen Atkins shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors