Jean Marsh, star of Upstairs, Downstairs, has passed away at the age of 90, as confirmed by a close friend.
In a statement to the PA news agency, director Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg shared that the actress «passed away peacefully in bed under the care of one of her devoted caregivers».
«We had a close relationship for 60 years,» he added. «She was not only wise and witty, but also very beautiful and kind, with talent as both an actress and writer.
«She had a natural empathy that endeared her to everyone she met. We spoke on the phone almost every day for the past 40 years.»
Marsh was most renowned for portraying Rose in Upstairs, Downstairs, a role that earned her an Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a limited series in 1976.
She co-created the series – centered around life in Edwardian England – alongside Dame Eileen Atkins.
Jean Marsh in 1975. Pic: PA
She was born on 1 July 1934 in Stoke Newington, North London. Marsh’s mother worked in a bar and as a theatre dresser, while her father was a handyman and printer’s assistant.
To combat an illness at a young age, Marsh took dance and mime classes, leading her to begin acting on stage with Huddersfield Rep in the 1950s.
She later moved to London, making her West End debut at just 12 years old in The Land Of The Christmas Stockings at The Duke of York’s Theatre.
Gordon Jackson, as butler Hudson and Jean Marsh, as parlour maid Rose Buck. Pic: PA
Marsh found success in the US, appearing in iconic shows such as The Twilight Zone, Danger Man, Hawaii Five-O, and Murder, She Wrote.
She also made notable appearances in classic British programs, including Doctor Who – where she portrayed William Hartnell’s short-lived companion Sara Kingdom, among other roles – and Detective.
Jean Marsh at the Strand Theatre in London in 2003. Pic: PA
In addition to her television work, Marsh also had roles in films such as 1988’s Willow, 1972’s Frenzy, and 1976’s The Eagle Has Landed.