Jean Marsh, a distinguished British actress and writer best known for her contributions to television and film, died at her home in London on Sunday, April 13, at the age of 90. The New York Times reported that the cause was complications from dementia, according to director Michael Lindsay-Hogg.

Born Jean Lyndsey Torren Marsh on July 1, 1934 in London, she was  in the city suffering through the Blitz during World War II. “I remember thinking the bombing would never stop,” she told PEOPLE in an interview in 1974. “When I was 5, I suddenly found I couldn’t walk. The doctors said it was mental paralysis.” As part of her therapy, she was enrolled in dance school, but by the age of 16, she shifted her focus to acting. Determined to refine her craft, she paid for voice lessons to eliminate her Cockney accent.

Marsh’s early experiences in a working-class family, with her mother’s background in domestic service, deeply influenced her creative endeavors. She co-created the acclaimed television series Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975) with Eileen Atkins, drawing inspiration from their shared insights into class dynamics. In the series, Marsh portrayed Rose Buck, a parlourmaid, earning critical acclaim and winning the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1975. She reprised this role in the 2010 revival of the series.​

Beyond Upstairs, Downstairs, Marsh co-created The House of Eliott (1991–1994), a period drama focusing on two sisters establishing a fashion house in 1920s London. Her acting career was extensive, with notable roles in films such as Cleopatra (1963), Frenzy (1972), Return to Oz (1985), and Willow (1988), where she played the formidable Queen Bavmorda. Marsh also appeared in several episodes of Doctor Who, portraying characters like Sara Kingdom and Morgaine.

Her stage work included performances in productions like The Bird of Time and Boeing Boeing. In recognition of her services to drama, Marsh was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012.