Doctor Who & Willow Star Jean Marsh Dies At 90

Jean Marsh has died at the age of 90. Born on July 1, 1934 in London, Marsh is known for appearing in 15 Doctor Who episodes across seasons 2, 3, and 26, where she played the roles of Joanna, Sara Kingdom, and Morgaine. She played the villainous sorceress Queen Bavmorda in the 1988 Ron Howard-directed Lucasfilm movie Willow. Marshis also known for co-creating and starring in the British drama series Upstairs, Downstairs, which aired for five seasons and 68 episodes from 1971-1975.

Filmmaker Michael Lindsay-Hogg, who was a close friend of Marsh, confirmed with The New York Times that she passed away from complications of dementia. The renowned actor was still living in London, and passed away at her home on Sunday, April 13.

Jean Marsh's Legacy Explained

She Performed In A Wide Range Of Genres

Marsh began taking ballet classes at 7 years old, which led to her developing her acting and singing skills in theater school. At 18 years old, she had her first onscreen role in the 1952 British television movie The Infinite Shoeblack and her first feature film appearance was in 1953's mystery thriller The Limping Man. In 1959, she went to the United States, where she starred in a Broadway production of William Shakespeare's comedic play Much Ado About Nothing and played the role of Alicia in The Twilight Zone episode "The Lonely."

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Her Doctor Who debut came in 1971, with her roles in seasons 2 and 3 helping to shape the early iterations of the science-fiction show. In addition to appearing in seasons 2, 3, and 26, Marsh reprised the role of Sara Kingdom in numerous Doctor Who audio stories and served as a frequent narrator. Along with Doctor Who, Marsh's legacy is strongly intertwined with Upstairs, Downstairs, where she played parlourmaid Rose Buck. She also made a strong impression as a secretary in Alfred Hitchcock's 1972 movie Frenzy and as the sinister Queen Bavmorda in Willow.

Our Take On Jean Marsh's Legacy

Her Queen Bavmorda Performance Is Iconic

Between her roles in early and more recent Doctor Who stories, The Twilight Zone, Upstairs, Downstairs, Frenzy, and Willow, Marsh's impressive range speaks for itself. Whether the genre was science fiction, fantasy, a period drama, or a thriller, she always excelled at the characters she played. When I think of Marsh, the first role that comes to mind is Queen Bavmorda, specifically the scene where she cries, "You're all pigs!" and transforms an entire army of men into pigs. She played one of the most memorable villains of my childhood and leaves behind a rich legacy in film and television.