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Jean Marsh

A genuine class act, Jean Marsh won raves in her native England and on American soil for taking on nuanced roles onscreen. The Emmy Award-winning actress first made her mark in British productions, from Shakespearean stage revivals, to sci-fi epics, to costume dramas. However, it was Marsh's breakout performance on "Upstairs, Downstairs" (ITV, 1971-75), a period drama series she also created, that earned the actress favorable reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. Her role as a prim and proper housemaid to an aristocratic British family won Marsh an Emmy in 1975, establishing her presence in Hollywood. She parlayed her success on British television into big screen projects, often playing the villain in feature films such as "Return to Oz" (1985) and "Willow" (1985). In 2010, Marsh starred on the three-part revival of "Upstairs, Downstairs," which garnered more critical praise and gave her the opportunity to reprise one of the best characters in her long revered career.