Image of Glynis Johns

Glynis Johns

A retired husky voiced British stage, television and film actress, dancer, pianist, and singer. Born on October 6, 1923 in Pretoria, South Africa as Glynis Margaret P. Johns, while her parents were on tour. She is the daughter of actor Mervyn Johns and Alice (Alyce) Maud Steele Wareham (1901 - 1970) who was an Australian concert pianist. Another source gives the spelling of her name as Alys Maude Steel-Payne. Glynis was always proud of her Welsh roots and took delight in playing the female lead (opposite Richard Burton) in the classic Under Milk Wood (1971). She is best known for her light comedy roles and often playful flirtation and creating the role of Desiree Armfeldt in A Little Night Music on Broadway, for which she won a Tony Award, and for her role as the suffragette mother Winifred Banks in Walt Disney's musical motion picture box office smash Mary Poppins (1964). In both roles, she sang songs written specifically for her, including "Send in the Clowns", composed by Stephen Sondheim, and "Sister Suffragette", written by the Sherman Brothers. Although she is probably best loved for her fishy roles in Miranda (1948) and Mad About Men (1954). She had earlier showed she could take on the serious roles as well as in Frieda (1947). Most recently seen (at the time of writing) in Superstar (1999). She was nominated for an Oscar for her work in the 1960 film The Sundowners. She is notable for the breathy quality of her husky voice and her eternally upbeat persona.


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Born:
Oct 5, 1923 In Pretoria, South Africa
Movie/TV Credits:
83
First Appeared:
In the movie South Riding 1938-08-01
Latest Project:
Movie Six by Sondheim 2013-12-09
Known For
Poster of Mrs. Amworth
Poster of The Dick Cavett Show
Poster of Third Time Lucky
Poster of Under Your Hat
Filmography
Movie Six by Sondheim Self (archive footage) 2013-12-09
Movie Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of 'Mary Poppins' Self 2004-12-14
Movie Superstar Grandma 1999-10-08
Movie While You Were Sleeping Elsie 1995-04-21
Movie The Ref Rose Chasseur 1994-03-09
Movie The Secret Garden Darjeeling (voice) 1994-11-05
Series Coming of Age 1988-03-15
Movie Zelly & Me Co-Co 1988-04-15
Movie Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School Ms. Grimwood (voice) 1988-10-16
Movie Nukie Sister Anne 1987-07-01
Series Murder, She Wrote Unknown 1984-09-30
Movie The Crime of Ovide Plouffe 1984-08-29
Series Cheers Unknown 1982-09-30
Series Little Gloria... Happy at Last Laura Fitzpatrick Morgan 1982-10-24
Movie Three Dangerous Ladies Mrs. Amworth 1977-06-05
Movie Mrs. Amworth Mrs. Amworth 1975-01-01
Movie The Happy Prince Swallow (voice) 1974-12-02
Movie The Vault of Horror Eleanor Critchit (segment 2 "The Neat Job") 1973-03-16
Movie Under Milk Wood Myfanwy Price 1972-01-27
Movie Lock Up Your Daughters Mrs Squeezum 1969-03-29
Movie Don't Just Stand There Sabine Manning 1968-09-03
Series The Dick Cavett Show Herself - Guest 1968-06-06
Series Batman Unknown 1966-01-12
Movie Dear Brigitte Vina Leaf 1965-01-08
Movie Mary Poppins Mrs. Banks 1964-12-17
Movie Papa's Delicate Condition Amberlyn Griffith 1963-03-06
Series Vacation Playhouse Glynis Granville 1963-07-22
Series Glynis 1963-09-25
Series Burke's Law Unknown 1963-09-20
Series The Beachcomber Unknown 1962-02-20
Movie The Cabinet of Caligari Jane Lindstrom 1962-05-25
Movie The Chapman Report Teresa Harnish 1962-10-05
Series The Lloyd Bridges Show Unknown 1962-09-11
Series Dr. Kildare Unknown 1961-09-27
Series The Roaring 20's Unknown 1960-10-15
Movie Last of the Few Self / Narrator 1960-04-27
Movie The Spider's Web Clarissa Hailsham-Brown 1960-11-01
Movie The Sundowners Mrs. Firth 1960-12-08
Movie Shake Hands with the Devil Kitty Brady 1959-06-24
Series Adventures in Paradise Unknown 1959-10-05
Movie Another Time, Another Place Kay Trevor 1958-05-02
Series Naked City Unknown 1958-09-30
Movie All Mine to Give Jo Eunson 1957-11-13
Movie Loser Takes All Cary 1956-09-09
Movie Around the World in Eighty Days Sporting Lady's Companion 1956-10-17
Movie Josephine and Men Josephine Luton 1955-11-09
Movie The Court Jester Maid Jean 1955-12-24
Movie The Seekers Marion Southey 1954-06-22
Movie The Weak and the Wicked Jean Raymond 1954-02-02
Movie The Beachcomber Martha Jones 1954-08-10
Movie Mad About Men Caroline Trewella / Miranda Trewella 1954-11-16
Movie The Sword and the Rose Princess Mary Tudor 1953-07-23
Series General Electric Theater Unknown 1953-02-01
Series The Oscars Unknown 1953-03-19
Movie Personal Affair Barbara Vining 1953-10-20
Movie Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue Helen Mary MacPherson MacGregor 1953-10-26
Movie The Magic Box May Jones 1952-01-01
Movie The Card Ruth Earp 1952-02-25
Movie No Highway in the Sky Marjorie Corder 1951-06-28
Movie Flesh and Blood Katherine Manley 1951-03-06
Movie Encore Stella Cotman 1951-06-11
Series Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Unknown 1951-10-05
Movie Appointment with Venus Nicola Fallaize 1951-10-08
Series Your Show of Shows Unknown 1950-02-25
Movie State Secret Lisa Robinson 1950-09-11
Movie Third Time Lucky Joan Burns 1949-01-06
Movie Dear Mr. Prohack Mimi Warburton 1949-09-07
Movie Helter Skelter Miranda Trewella 1949-01-07
Movie Miranda Miranda Trewella 1948-04-06
Series Studio One Unknown 1948-11-07
Movie Frieda Judy Dawson 1947-06-19
Movie An Ideal Husband Mabel Chiltern 1947-11-14
Movie This Man Is Mine Millie 1946-09-12
Movie Perfect Strangers Dizzy Clayton 1945-10-15
Movie The Halfway House Gwyneth 1944-02-01
Movie The Adventures of Tartu Paula Palacek 1943-10-01
Movie 49th Parallel Anna 1941-11-24
Movie The Briggs Family Sheila Briggs 1940-09-07
Movie The Thief of Bagdad Princess's Maid (uncredited) 1940-02-19
Movie Under Your Hat Winnie 1940-09-01
Movie On the Night of the Fire Mary 1939-10-26
Movie South Riding Midge Carne 1938-08-01
Movie Prison Without Bars Nina 1938-09-20