Acclaimed actress and co-creator Jean Marsh, best known for her role in Upstairs Downstairs, has passed away at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of storytelling and service.
Jean Marsh, the talented actress and co-creator behind the beloved TV drama Upstairs Downstairs, has passed away at the age of 90. Her dedication to her craft and her passion for storytelling have left a lasting impact on the world of television and theatre.
Jean Marsh is a British actress, producer, and writer. Born on July 1, 1934, she rose to fame in the 1960s with her iconic roles in 'Upstairs, Downstairs' and 'I, Claudius'. Marsh's versatility as an actress earned her multiple BAFTA nominations. She has also ventured into producing, creating several TV shows and films, including 'The House of Eliott', a period drama that aired from 1991 to 1994.
Marsh is best known for her portrayal of ‘Rose Buck’ , the hard-bitten but ultimately kind-hearted maid, in the ITV series about class in Edwardian England. Her performance earned her an Emmy Award in 1975, which she received for her outstanding work as an actress.
Behind the Scenes: Co-Creating a Classic
Marsh came up with the idea of a period drama involving the servants of a wealthy family while house sitting in France with her friend Dame Eileen Atkins. She later co-created the series alongside John Hawkesworth and John Whitney, bringing to life the story of the Bellamy family and their servant staff who lived underneath them.
Upstairs downstairs refers to the social hierarchy and division within a household, particularly in large estates during the Victorian era.
The upstairs typically consisted of the family's living quarters, while downstairs housed the servants and staff responsible for maintaining the household.
This system was based on class divisions, with those above stairs holding higher social status than those below.
The upstairs downstairs concept has also been used to describe relationships between people in positions of power and those who serve them.
The 1970s ITV series was a critical and popular success, finding a fond audience in both the UK and the United States, where it aired on PBS. Its influence can be seen in later shows such as ‘Downton Abbey‘ , which was partly inspired by Upstairs Downstairs.
A Lasting Impact: Marsh’s Legacy Beyond Television
Marsh‘s contributions to television extend beyond her work on Upstairs Downstairs. She had notable roles in ‘The Twilight Zone‘ and Grantchester, and co-created the costume drama ‘The House of Elliott’ . Her stage credits include plays by ‘Shakespeare’ and ‘George Bernard Shaw’ .
In 2012, she was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to drama. Her friend and fellow director Michael Lindsay-Hogg paid tribute to her as ‘wise and funny… very pretty and kind, and talented both as an actress and writer’ . He also shared a poignant memory of their almost daily phone conversations over the past 40 years.
Marsh‘s dedication to her craft and her passion for storytelling have left a lasting legacy in the world of television and theatre. Her memory will continue to inspire new generations of creators and performers.
