Jean Marsh, the beloved actress and co-creator of Upstairs Downstairs, has died at the age of 90. She was co-creator of the iconic series Upstairs Downstairs. Marsh, who was known and loved for her prodigious talent upon stage and screen, died unexpectedly while house sitting in France. Along with her dear friend Dame Eileen Atkins, she was the anchor of that company.
Marsh’s legacy is indelibly tied to her unforgettable work as Rose Buck in Upstairs Downstairs. She didn’t just act in the series, she was heavily involved in its development and production along with Atkins. The show first aired in the early 1970s and became a cultural phenomenon, capturing the intricacies of life in a London townhouse. In 2010, she returned again as the only original cast member to return for the show’s revival. This decision deepened her connection with the cult hit of a series even further.
One of the most lauded actors of her time, Marsh won multiple awards throughout her career, including an Emmy Award for playing Rose Buck. Her legacy is indelibly stamped on the arts. In recognition of her activism, in 2012 she was appointed an Officer of the British Empire (OBE). Her talent flew much farther than the small screen. She appeared in large-scale Hollywood productions such as Cleopatra and Willow, as well as leading roles in hit television productions including Doctor Who and Grantchester.
Marsh’s partnership with actress Dame Eileen Atkins was not confined to Upstairs Downstairs. The pair famously co-created the BBC period drama The House of Eliott, spirit of collaboration and feminine force on display.
In addition to her television and film work, Marsh had an extensive theatre career, earning praise for her performances in plays by Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. After suffering a serious stroke in 2011, she found the demands of her acting career to be no longer sustainable.
Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg, a close friend and collaborator, described her as “wise and funny… very pretty and kind, and talented both as an actress and writer.” He expressed a deep affection for her character, calling her an “instinctively empathetic person who was loved by everyone who met her.”
Reflecting on her own work, Marsh once said, “We still seem to want it because if you rose out of your class, you knew you had done well. And we like it because the past is not as worrying as the news.” This view of the world expresses the true spirit of Upstairs Downstairs and what makes it so timeless.
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