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Megs Jenkins

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Megs Jenkins
Born
Muguette Mary Jenkins

(1917-04-21)21 April 1917
Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Died5 October 1998(1998-10-05) (aged 81)
Felixstowe, Suffolk, England
OccupationActress
Years active1939–1990
Spouse
George Routledge
​
​
(m. 1943; div. 1959)​

Muguette Mary "Megs" Jenkins (21 April 1917 – 5 October 1998) was an English character actress who appeared in British films and television programmes.

Life and career

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Jenkins was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, the daughter of a construction engineer.[1]

She originally trained to be a ballet dancer. Although born in England, she often played Welsh characters. She made her noticeable film debut in Millions Like Us (1943) as the Welsh room-mate and confidante of the main character (played by Patricia Roc). She went on to appear in such films as Green for Danger (1946), The History of Mr. Polly (1949), The Cruel Sea (1953), and Oliver! (1968). She played the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose, in two adaptations of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw: the film The Innocents (1961) and a 1974 television adaptation. She also frequently played comedic roles, and in later life was a regular in the sitcom Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt, and the children's series Worzel Gummidge. [2]

From 1933, Jenkins also had a long stage career, and appeared in several plays by Emlyn Williams including The Light of Heart in 1940. In 1952 she appeared in the comedy play The Gay Dog in the West End and reprised her role in the 1954 film version. In 1953 she appeared in the long-running A Day by the Sea by N.C. Hunter. In 1956, she won the Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting performance in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge.[2]

Megs Jenkins's 1943 marriage to George Routledge, a commando who had been a childhood classmate, and who renewed their acquaintance when he saw her name in a review, ended in divorce in 1959.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1939 The Silent Battle Louise Released as Continental Express in USA [1]
Secret Journey Reception girl in glasses Uncredited
Poison Pen Barmaid
Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday Maid Uncredited
1943 Millions Like Us Gwen [1]
The Lamp Still Burns Nurse Uncredited [2]
1944 It's in the Bag Peach St. Clair
1945 29 Acacia Avenue Shirley Released as The Facts of Love in USA [1]
Painted Boats Barmaid
1947 Green for Danger Nurse Woods [1]
The Brothers Angustina McFarish [1]
1948 Saraband for Dead Lovers Frau Busche
The Monkey's Paw Mrs Trelawne [1]
1949 The History of Mr. Polly The Innkeeper [1]
A Boy, a Girl and a Bike Nan Ritchie
1950 No Place for Jennifer Mrs Marshall [1]
Mr. Gillie Mrs Gillie Live TV drama [1]
1951 White Corridors Mrs. Briggs
1952 Secret People Penny
Ivanhoe Servant to Isaac [1]
1953 The Cruel Sea Tallow's sister [1]
Rough Shoot Mrs. Powell
Personal Affair Vi Vining
Trouble in Store Miss Gibson [1]
1954 The Gay Dog Maggie Gay
1955 Out of the Clouds The Landlady
John and Julie Mrs Pritchett
1957 The Man in the Sky Mrs. Snowden
The Passionate Stranger Millie
The Story of Esther Costello Nurse Evans
1958 Indiscreet Doris Banks [1]
1959 Tiger Bay Mrs Philips [1]
Jet Storm Rose Brock
Friends and Neighbours Lily Grimshaw
1960 Conspiracy of Hearts Sister Constance
1961 The Green Helmet Kitty Launder
The Innocents Mrs Grose [1]
1962 The Barber of Stamford Hill Mrs. Werner
Life for Ruth Mrs. Gordon
The Wild and the Willing Mrs. Corbett
1964 Murder Most Foul Mrs Gladys Thomas
1965 Bunny Lake Is Missing Sister
1967 Stranger in the House Mrs. Christoforides
1968 Oliver! Mrs Bedwin [1]
1969 The Smashing Bird I Used to Know Matron
1972 Asylum Miss Higgins (segment: "Lucy Comes to Stay")
1975 The Amorous Milkman Iris

Television

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Vallance, Tom (11 October 1998). "Obituary: Megs Jenkins". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Lyall, Sarah (22 October 1998). "Megs Jenkins, 81, an Actress Known for Her Matronly Roles". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
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