Legendary UK actress Glynis Johns turns a remarkable 100 today.
South-African born Ms. Johns, best known for her role as the mother of Jane and Michael in Mary Poppins, now resides in a Beverly Hills retirement home.
She appeared in more than 60 films and 30 plays, is the recipient of awards and nominations including the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe Awards, the Laurel Awards, the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk Awards and the Laurence Olivier Awards.
As one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood and classical years of British cinema, she has several longevity records to her name. With the death of Olivia de Havilland in 2020, she became the oldest living Academy Award nominee in any acting category and in 2021, with the death of Betty White, she became the oldest living Disney Legend.
She has appeared alongside everyone from Roger Moore to Sandra Bullock, and later in TV shows including Batman, Cheers and Murder She Wrote.
She also appeared alongside James Stewart, David Niven, Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, David Niven, Danny Kaye, Lana Turner, Jack Hawkins, Richard Todd, Richard Attenborough, Alec Guinness and Diana Dors.
Her screen credits include No Highway in the Sky, The Weak and the Wicked, Mad About Men, The Court Jester, The Sundowners (filmed in Australia in 1960), The Cabinet of Caligari, The Chapman Report and Under Milk Wood. Renowned for the breathy quality of her husky voice, Johns sang songs written specifically for her both on screen and stage, including “Send In the Clowns”, composed by Stephen Sondheim for Broadway’s A Little Night Music, in which she originated the role of Desiree Armfeldt.
Johns’ family have called on the UK government to give her a Damehood.
Her closest living relative, grandson Thomas Forwood, said, “I am so delighted that my grandmother is set to make it to this landmark birthday and we send her many congratulations.
“Glynis enjoyed a fabulous career over many decades during which she showed her immense talent and versatility in a range of parts on screen and stage.
“Almost everyone will have seen her work and be familiar with her face and voice – she’s in so many pieces that people hold dear.
“Everyone in the family is immensely proud of her achievements.
“It would be fitting on this occasion for the UK government to formally acknowledge her cultural contribution by making her a Dame.”
Hear, hear! Happy 100th!
So many great credits in this career! https://t.co/gmOPVmYrbv
— Peter Ford (@mrpford) October 4, 2023
Source: Daily Mail, Wikipedia
