Jean Marsh Biography

Fast Facts

• Appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to drama in the 2012 Birthday Honours
• Suffered a minor stroke that prevented her from appearing in the beginning of the second series of "Upstairs, Downstairs․"
• Worked as a cabaret singer and photo model while she studied acting and mime
• Co-created the popular "Upstairs, Downstairs," television series, but her royalty rate is based on the roughly $100 payment she initially received for each episode, inspiring her to jokingly describe herself as "Mary Tyler Less․"
• Often played the roles of prim, severe women, though her American Television debut in "The Moon and Sixpence" relied more on sex appeal
• Has written several books, including "Fiennders Abbey," "The House of Eliott" and "Iris․"
• Attended charm school as a young woman before starting her acting studies