Glynis Johns
Birthday: 1923-10-05 | Place of Birth: Pretoria, South AfricaA 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.
Known For
Acting
Role
as Grandma
as Elsie
as Darjeeling (voice)
as Rose Chasseur
as Ms. Grimwood (voice)
as Sister Anne
as Laura Fitzpatrick Morgan
as Mrs. Amworth
as Eleanor Critchit (segment 2 "The Neat Job")
as Myfanwy Price
as Mrs Squeezum
as Mrs. Banks
as Jane Lindstrom
as Teresa Harnish
as Mrs. Firth
as Kitty Brady
as Kay Trevor
as Jo Eunson
as Maid Jean
as Barbara Vining
as Caroline Trewella / Miranda Trewella
as Helen Mary MacPherson MacGregor
as Marion Southey
as Ruth Earp
as Katherine Manley
as Nicola Fallaize
as Lisa Robinson
as Mimi Warburton
as Miranda Trewella
