Jean Marsh, the British actress and co-creator of the classic TV series Upstairs Downstairs, has passed away at the age of 90. Known for her role as the beloved maid Rose Buck, Marsh’s legacy in both television and film is marked by numerous iconic performances.
Upstairs Downstairs and Her Emmy-Winning Role
Marsh is perhaps best known for her role as Rose Buck in Upstairs Downstairs, a 1970s drama set in Edwardian England that explored the class system through the lives of the wealthy Bellamy family and their servant staff. Her portrayal of Rose, a hard-bitten but ultimately kind-hearted maid, won her an Emmy Award and left an indelible mark on television history.
Beyond her work on Upstairs Downstairs, Marsh also had notable roles in Hollywood films, including Cleopatra, Willow, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Frenzy. She also made appearances in the long-running TV series Doctor Who.
A Tribute from Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg
Sir Michael Lindsay-Hogg, a close friend and film director, paid tribute to Marsh, describing her as “wise and funny… very pretty and kind, and talented both as an actress and writer.” He also mentioned that Marsh passed peacefully, cared for by a loving carer.
Sir Michael shared that he had daily phone conversations with Marsh for over 40 years, and remembered her as an instinctively empathetic person who was loved by everyone she met.
The Birth of Upstairs Downstairs
Marsh and her friend, actress Dame Eileen Atkins, came up with the idea for Upstairs Downstairs while house-sitting in France. They imagined a period drama about the lives of servants in a wealthy household.
The show, co-created with John Hawkesworth and John Whitney, became a critical and popular success, and it found a strong audience in the United States when it aired on PBS.
Upstairs Downstairs and Its Influence on Downton Abbey
Upstairs Downstairs is widely credited with inspiring the modern hit series Downton Abbey. In 2010, the show was revived by the BBC, and Marsh became the only original cast member to return, reprising her role as Rose Buck in five episodes.
When asked about the ongoing popularity of master-and-servant dramas, Marsh said in 2010, “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.”
Other Notable Work and Career Highlights
Marsh’s creativity didn’t stop with Upstairs Downstairs. In 1991, she teamed up with Dame Eileen Atkins again to co-create the BBC costume drama, The House of Elliott.
She also had memorable roles in other television series, including The Twilight Zone and Grantchester, and appeared in various Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw plays on the stage.
A Personal Life and Later Years
Marsh was married for five years to actor Jon Pertwee, who later starred as Doctor Who. In 2012, she was honored with the Officer of the British Empire (OBE) award for her services to drama.
After suffering a stroke in 2011, Marsh had to scale back her acting commitments, but she continued to be a beloved figure in the entertainment world.