--- name: "Glynis Johns" canonical: "https://film.one/person/glynis-johns" roles: ["Actor"] born: "5 October 1923" died: "4 January 2024" reviewed_on_fi1m: 4 average_fi1m_score: 75 average_as: "actor" average_over: 4 updated: "2026-09-20T04:21:14.037937+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Glynis Johns Actor. Born 5 October 1923 in Pretoria, South Africa. Died 4 January 2024. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 5 October 1923, Pretoria, South Africa - **Died:** 4 January 2024 - **Active:** 1941–1964 - **Also known as:** Glynnis Johns, Glynis Margaret P. Johns, Глинис Джонс - **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination - **Average Fi1m score:** 75, as actor, over 4 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 79 (1), 1950s 63 (1), 1960s 78 (2) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 75 across 3 titles - **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Adventure 2, Comedy 2, Family 2, Fantasy 2, Drama 1, Romance 1 - **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $150m across 3 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glynis_Johns, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q272579, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424318/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5826 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Mary Poppins*](https://film.one/film/mary-poppins.md) (83) - **HBO Max:** [*49th Parallel*](https://film.one/film/49th-parallel.md) (79) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Sundowners*](https://film.one/film/the-sundowners.md) (74) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Glynis Johns > A husky, breathy voice that composers wrote songs for, and a long run of practical, spirited women in British and Hollywood films. Johns was often typecast as cute, and she was sharper than the parts that asked it of her. Start with the voice. It was husky and breathy, and it did not quite match the face it came out of, which is why composers wrote songs for it rather than handing her ones that already existed. She sang "Sister Suffragette" as Mrs Banks in *Mary Poppins* (1964), and on Broadway she was the first to sing "Send in the Clowns", as Desiree Armfeldt in *A Little Night Music* (1973). In both the sound is the same: a woman making up her mind out loud, and slightly surprised by what she decides. The career runs long. She trained in ballet as a child, was on stage at twelve, and made her screen debut in *South Riding* (1938). She was a fixture of British cinema through the war, in *49th Parallel* (1941), and became a star with *Miranda* (1948), top-billed as a mermaid and asked to be delightful for ninety minutes. She was, and she was asked again in *Mad About Men* (1954). Ken Annakin directed her four times; her father, Mervyn Johns, acted alongside her twice. From the early 1950s she worked more in America, in *The Court Jester* (1955) with Danny Kaye and then *The Sundowners* (1960), and she kept working in film, television and theatre into the 1990s. *The Sundowners* is the one we have reviewed, and it shows what she could do when a script stopped treating her as a garnish. Fred Zinnemann's film spends 133 minutes on one argument, keep moving or settle down, and Johns arrives once the cattle drive is over as Mrs Firth, a hotel-keeper who has run a bar for years and talks like it. She takes one look at Peter Ustinov's drifting ex-sailor and sets about him. We laughed harder than the outback and Robert Mitchum had prepared us to, and every time it was Johns treating a man built around leaving as a customer who had simply not yet been told the price. Those scenes are the funniest in the film and the most honest, because she is the only person in it who has already chosen. The weakness was never hers so much as the industry's. The mermaid parts and their descendants asked her to be cute, and she was so good at it that she was kept at it, when the evidence of *The Sundowners* is that she was sharper as a woman with a business to run than as a woman with a tail. The later stage work, and a Welsh turn as Myfanwy Price opposite Richard Burton in *Under Milk Wood* (1971), suggest a career that found its second gear late and on other people's terms. She once passed on her father's advice: "He said ‘Always listen for your cue.’ That is good advice both on stage and in life. Listen for your cue and then act on it." It describes her exactly. Watch her in a scene she does not lead, and you will see her waiting for the line that lets her take it. ## Biography Glynis Johns was a British actress born on 5 October 1923 in Pretoria, South Africa. She made her screen debut in South Riding (1938) and appeared as Anna in the wartime drama 49th Parallel (1941). Johns originated the role of Desiree Armfeldt in the Broadway production of A Little Night Music (1973), winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical; Stephen Sondheim wrote 'Send in the Clowns' for her voice. She played Winifred Banks in the Disney film Mary Poppins (1964) and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for The Sundowners (1960). Her father was the actor Mervyn Johns. She appeared in more than 60 films across a career spanning seven decades, with later roles including those in While You Were Sleeping (1995) and The Ref (1994). Johns died on 4 January 2024. *Sources: nytimes.com, bfi.org.uk, en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (4) - *Mary Poppins* (1964), Fi1m 83, as Mrs. Banks — [page](https://film.one/film/mary-poppins.md) - *The Sundowners* (1960), Fi1m 74, as Mrs. Firth — [page](https://film.one/film/the-sundowners.md) - *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), Fi1m 63, as Sporting Lady's Companion — [page](https://film.one/film/around-the-world-in-80-days.md) - *49th Parallel* (1941), Fi1m 79, as Anna — [page](https://film.one/film/49th-parallel.md) ## Complete filmography (90) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Hollywood Singing & Dancing: A Musical History - 1960's* (2009), as (archive footage) - *Superstar* (1999), as Grandma - *While You Were Sleeping* (1995), as Elsie - *The Secret Garden* (1994), as Darjeeling (voice) - *The Ref* (1994), as Rose Chasseur - *Scooby-Doo and the Ghoul School* (1988), as Ms. Grimwood (voice) - *Zelly & Me* (1988), as Co-Co - *Coming of Age* (1988), series, Actor - *Nukie* (1987), as Sister Anne - *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Bridget O'Hara - *The Crime of Ovide Plouffe* (1984), Actor - *Spraggue* (1984), as Aunt Mary - *Little Gloria... Happy at Last* (1982), series, as Laura Fitzpatrick Morgan - *Cheers* (1982), series, as Mrs. Helen Chambers — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md) - *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Edna Miles - *Three Dangerous Ladies* (1977), as Mrs. Amworth - *Mrs. Amworth* (1975), as Mrs. Amworth - *The Happy Prince* (1974), as Swallow (voice) - *The Vault of Horror* (1973), as Eleanor Critchit (segment 2 "The Neat Job") - *Under Milk Wood* (1972), as Myfanwy Price - *Lock Up Your Daughters* (1969), as Mrs Squeezum - *Don't Just Stand There* (1968), as Sabine Manning - *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Lorraine Barrie - *Batman* (1966), series, as Lady Penelope Peasoup - *Dear Brigitte* (1965), as Vina Leaf - *Mary Poppins* (1964), as Mrs. Banks — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/mary-poppins.md) - *12 O'Clock High* (1964), series, as Jennifer Heath - *Glynis* (1963), series, Actor - *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Steffi Bernard - *Vacation Playhouse* (1963), series, as Glynis Granville - *Papa's Delicate Condition* (1963), as Amberlyn Griffith - *The Chapman Report* (1962), as Teresa Harnish - *The Lloyd Bridges Show* (1962), series, as Leah Marquand - *The Cabinet of Caligari* (1962), as Jane Lindstrom - *The Beachcomber* (1962), series, as Rosalind Metcalf - *Dr. Kildare* (1961), series, as Sister Brigid Marie - *The DuPont Show of the Week* (1961), series, as Emily Foster - *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Catherine Collins - *Kraft Mystery Theatre* (1961), series, as Clarissa Hailsham-Brown - *The Sundowners* (1960), as Mrs. Firth — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-sundowners.md) - *The Spider's Web* (1960), as Clarissa Hailsham-Brown - *The Roaring 20's* (1960), series, Actor - *Adventures in Paradise* (1959), series, as Esther Holmes - *Shake Hands with the Devil* (1959), as Kitty Brady - *Naked City* (1958), series, as Miss Arlington - *Another Time, Another Place* (1958), as Kay Trevor - *All Mine to Give* (1957), as Jo Eunson - *Around the World in 80 Days* (1956), as Sporting Lady's Companion — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/around-the-world-in-80-days.md) - *The Errol Flynn Theatre* (1956), series, as Lou McNamara, The Girl - *Loser Takes All* (1956), as Cary - *The Court Jester* (1955), as Maid Jean - *Josephine and Men* (1955), as Josephine Luton - *Mad About Men* (1954), as Caroline Trewella / Miranda Trewella - *The Beachcomber* (1954), as Martha Jones - *The Seekers* (1954), as Marion Southey - *The Weak and the Wicked* (1954), as Jean Raymond - *Rob Roy, The Highland Rogue* (1953), as Helen Mary MacPherson MacGregor - *Personal Affair* (1953), as Barbara Vining - *The Sword and the Rose* (1953), as Princess Mary Tudor - *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Alma - *The Card* (1952), as Ruth Earp - *The Magic Box* (1952), as May Jones - *Appointment with Venus* (1951), as Nicola Fallaize - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, Actor - *No Highway in the Sky* (1951), as Marjorie Corder - *Encore* (1951), as Stella Cotman - *Flesh and Blood* (1951), as Katherine Manley - *Lux Video Theatre* (1950), series, Actor - *State Secret* (1950), as Lisa Robinson - *Your Show of Shows* (1950), series, Actor - *Dear Mr. Prohack* (1949), as Mimi Warburton - *Helter Skelter* (1949), as Miranda Trewella (uncredited) - *Third Time Lucky* (1949), as Joan Burns - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Lily Snape - *Miranda* (1948), as Miranda Trewella - *An Ideal Husband* (1947), as Mabel Chiltern - *Frieda* (1947), as Judy Dawson - *This Man Is Mine* (1946), as Millie - *Perfect Strangers* (1945), as Dizzy Clayton - *The Halfway House* (1944), as Gwyneth - *The Adventures of Tartu* (1943), as Paula Palacek - *49th Parallel* (1941), as Anna — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/49th-parallel.md) - *The Prime Minister* (1941), as Miss Sheridan (uncredited) - *The Briggs Family* (1940), as Sheila Briggs - *Under Your Hat* (1940), as Winnie - *The Thief of Bagdad* (1940), as Princess's Maid (uncredited) - *On the Night of the Fire* (1939), as Mary - *Prison Without Bars* (1938), as Nina - *South Riding* (1938), as Midge Carne - *Murder in the Family* (1938), as Marjorie Osborne ## Gallery - ![Glynis Johns](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-411577c40710.jpg) Glynis Johns — Unknown photographer, Two Cities Films, United Artists, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Glynis_Johns_-_still_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Depicted person: Glynis Johns – British actress (1923–2024)](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-133de6fdad9c.jpg) Depicted person: Glynis Johns – British actress (1923–2024) — Studio Publicity, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/GLynisJohns51.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Publicity photo of Glynis Johns (1959)](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-492259f9839c.jpg) Publicity photo of Glynis Johns (1959) — Studio Publicity, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/GLYNISJohns.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Publicity photo of Glynis Johns for 49th Parallel, 1941. (1942)](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-1408798b6337.png) Publicity photo of Glynis Johns for 49th Parallel, 1941. (1942) — Columbia Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/Glynis_Johns_-_studio_portrait_%281941%29.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Glynis Johns](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-a6bcb4dea307.jpg) Glynis Johns — Image via TMDB - ![Glynis Johns](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-c04630116af5.jpg) Glynis Johns — Image via TMDB - ![Glynis Johns](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-a172d8248110.jpg) Glynis Johns — Image via TMDB - ![Glynis Johns in the trailer for The Sundowners (1960). She received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for this role. (2015)](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-a04c3ecd86fb.png) Glynis Johns in the trailer for The Sundowners (1960). She received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress for this role. (2015) — Trailer screenshot Licencing information : https://web.archive.org/web/20080321033709/http://www.sabucat.com/?pg=copyright, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Glynis_Johns%2C_The_Sundowners.png/1280px-Glynis_Johns%2C_The_Sundowners.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Glynis Johns](https://film.one/media/person/1232811/gallery-5d564940644f.jpg) Glynis Johns — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1961: Best Supporting Actress (nominated), for *The Sundowners* ### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated - 1963: Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama (nominated), for *The Chapman Report* ### Other awards — 5 won, 1 nominated - Disney Legends 1998: Disney Legends (won) - Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play 1977: Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play (nominated), for *Cause Célèbre* - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical 1973: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (won), for *A Little Night Music* - Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical 1973: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (won), for *A Little Night Music* - Laurel Awards 1965: Laurel Awards (won), for *Mary Poppins* - National Board of Review Award for Best Actress 1942: National Board of Review Award for Best Actress (won), for *49th Parallel* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/glynis-johns