Older generations who have watched and followed the growth of British Cinema and Hollywood are sure to remember icons like Glynis Johns. She traded her craft as an actress, dancer, singer, and musician in a career that lasted more than 8 decades before deciding to take a back seat when she retired in 1999. Since then, there has been so much curiosity about her activities.
First things first, the 100-year-old is still alive and is a resident of a senior citizens living community located in Belmont Village Hollywood Heights.
Though she no longer pursues her career actively, the oldest living academy nominee is notable for roles ranging from comedy, horror, to romance in Miranda(1948), Mad About You(1954) The Sundowners(1960), Mary Poppins(1964), Under Milk Wood(1971), and A Little Nights Music(1973). To show for these roles, she has received several awards including a Tony Award.
Glynis Johns Now Lives in a Senior Citizens Living Community in Hollywood Heights
The multi-hyphenated entertainer has been retired since 1999 when she appeared as Molly Shannon’s grandmother in Superstar. Since then, she has taken a backseat and now lives quietly at a senior citizens living community in Belmont, Hollywood Heights. According to reports, she stopped giving interviews in her 90s.
Prior, she had enjoyed a long successful career that led to many works as we shall see later.
Aside from her career, she also had a colorful romantic life that led to four marriages. Her first marriage was with Anthony Forwood whom she shares a son named Gareth Forwood. Sadly it ended in divorce.
After this, she got married to David Foster in 1952 but they parted ways in 1956.
Like her first two marriages, her second marriage with Cecil Henderson also ended in divorce. Her last marriage was with Elliot Arnold and it ended in the 70s, since then, she has not remarried.
While she is alive and kicking, she is one of the few surviving members of her family. She outlived all her ex-husbands and son. Her son died of a heart attack on October 16, 2007, at the age of 62.
A Look at Her Background Before Fame
These days, Glynis is celebrated as one of the surviving actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood due to a long successful career. Yet, she also started somewhere.
She was born Glynis Margaret Payne Johns in South Africa on October 5, 1923, to Mervyn Johns and Alyce Steele-Wareham. Both parents were into showbiz and they were always touring.
As a result, Glynis also found herself following in their footsteps at a young age. Reportedly, her grandmother took her to the stage when she was a few weeks old and this was shortly after the family returned to England.
She joined the London Ballet School at the age of 5. By the age of 6, her unique dancing made many describe her as a dancing wonder, and at 10, she was already giving ballet instruction. During that period, she won more than 20 gold medals.
Aside from following her passion for dancing, there was also the need to have an education. Considering this, she enrolled at Clifton High School and South Hampstead High School.
Glynis Johns Made Her Screen Debut at the Age of 15
She made her screen debut in South Riding(1938). She played the role of Midge Carne, daughter of the politician Robert Carne(acted by Ralph Richardson).
Though she was only 15 at the time, Johns helped bring to life the dynamics of life in a small Yorkshire town.
Moreso, it introduced her distinct ‘husky’ voice to many. Over the years, she has translated roles in more than 60 films and 30 plays.
See Also: Who Is Annie Parisse? Best Known Works And Filmography
Her Best Works that You Should See
Movies
1. 49th Parallel(1941)
She appeared in the Canadian war thriller directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. At first, she was not a part of the cast but later joined after Elisabeth Bergner quit.
Regardless of this, Johns put up a stellar performance that earned her the Best Actress by the National Board of Review.
2. The Halfway House(1944)
Shot during the Second World War, Johns acted the part of Gwyneth in the ghost story. Notably, she shared the screen with her acclaimed father
3. Miranda(1948)
The talented Glynis takes on the title role of Miranda Trewalla in an intriguing part. Her character is a corny Cornish mermaid who dupes many to go through everyday life.
Starting from disguising as a patient so Dr. Paul Martin will take her to London, we see her switch her acting for more action. At some point, she pretends to be a seductress as well as someone catching fish at a zoo.
Her make-believe acting was quite hilarious and no wonder, she reprised the role in the 1949 Helter Skelter and Mad About Men(1954)
4. Third Time Lucky(1949)
The South African-born appeared in the crime drama film directed by Gordon Parry. She shared the screen with Dermot Walsh and Charles Goldner.
5. The Sword and the Rose(1953)
The 1953 film was adapted from the novel When Knighthood Was in Flower and directed by Ken Annakin. It is based on Mary Tudor’s love story with Charles Brandon.
This work marked her debut both on television and Broadway. It was released on a budget of $2 million but flopped and made only $1 million.
Despite being a commercial failure, it is still regarded as one of her best works. Her acting prowess alongside Richard Todd, James Robertson, and Michael Gough makes it a classic.
6. The Weak and the Wicked(1954)
This was another well-known appearance she made in the 1954 prison drama directed by J. Lee Thompson. Glynis translated the role of Jean Raymond, a convicted prisoner who is sentenced to twelve months in prison for fraud.
This work is considered one of a kind, especially during a time when the women in prison genre of film were not so common.
7. Mad About Men(1954)
As mentioned earlier, she reprised her role as Miranda in the 1954 film directed by Ralph Thomas. Like Miranda, it was also written by Peter Blackmore.
This time around, she swaps places with a school teacher who has gone on a vacation. In a twist, the Cornish mermaid falls in love with a human.
8. The Court Jester(1955)
Another interesting role she took was in the 1955 film The Court Jester which Melvin Frank and Norman Panama directed.
She acted the part of Jean opposite Hubert Hawkins(Danny Kaye) as they plot to remove the king from the English throne.
9. The Spiders Web(1960)
She played the part of Clarissa Hailsham-Brown in the mystery film directed by Godfrey Grayson. The movie was adapted from Agatha Christie’s play of the same name.
She shared the screen with stars like John Justin, Cicely Courtneidge, and Jack Hulbert.
10. The Sundowners(1960)
Her role earned her an Academy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1960. Aside from this recognition, her acting was described by Bosley Crowther of the New York Times as one played richly and with effervescent.
11. The Cabinet of Caligari(1962)
She was one of the stars of the remake of The Cabinet of Caligari. Johns acted in the role of Jane Lindstrom in the American horror movie.
Though it is often placed side by side with the German horror film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, the only thing they share is a plot twist.
12. The Chapman Report(1962)
John’s once more shows her dynamic acting in the romantic drama, The Chapman Report. Notably, she shared the screen with legends like Jane Fonda and Shelley Winters.
As Teresa Harnish, she is said to have offset the film’s moody theme.
13. Mary Poppins(1964)
It is generally regarded as her most famous work. She won a Laurel Award for her role as the energetic Winnifred Banks in the Disney musical fantasy comedy.
Notably, she sang Sister Suffragette, a song written specifically for her.
14. The Refs(1994)
This is one of her final works and many describe her role as interesting. For one who had spent many decades as an actress, Johns notably gave a stellar performance.
In some quotas, many argue that she stole the show from the film’s leads-Kevin Spacey, Dennis Leary, and Judy Davis.
Her Best Plays
15. A Little Night Music(1973)
She appeared in the role of Desiree Armfeldt in the Broadway production. Johns performed Send In the Clowns which was composed by Stephen Sondheim.
While her role is acclaimed, she almost missed it due to an emergency surgery to treat an intestinal infection. Thankfully, she had a successful surgery but shocked many when she returned to the play two days later. According to her, she did that because she could not stand having someone sing her part.
Taking such a risk paid off for the actress as she received a Tony and Drama Desk awards.
18 years after she acted as Desiree, she acted as Madam Armfeldt(Desiree’s mother) in the 1991 remake of the classical. She revealed that she did not like the second role as she did not know whether she could stand hearing someone else singing Send In the Clowns.
16. 13 Rue de l’Amour(1975)
Between April 1 1975 and May 10 of the same year, the South-African-born actress starred in Joseph Hardy’s stage production of 13 Rue de l’Amour.
Her role was well received by viewers as she helped add life to the story’s plot.
17. Cause Célèbre(1977-1978)
Alongside other actors, Johns performed in Cause Célèbre at Her Majesty’s Theatre and Leicester Haymarket Theatre between 1977 and 1988.
The play was based on the trial of Alma Rattenbury and her teenage lover for the murder of her third husband. She held the attention of the audience with her acting and unsurprisingly, it earned her the Variety Club Award for Best Actress.
Glynis was also nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play.