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

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.

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.

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

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1939 The Silent Battle Louise Released as Continental Express in USA Secret Journey Reception girl in glasses Uncredited Poison Pen Barmaid Inspector Hornleigh on Holiday Maid Uncredited 1943 Millions Like Us Gwen The Lamp Still Burns Nurse Uncredited 1944 It's in the Bag Peach St. Clair 1945 29 Acacia Avenue Shirley Released as The Facts of Love in USA Painted Boats Barmaid 1947 Green for Danger Nurse Woods The Brothers Angustina McFarish 1948 Saraband for Dead Lovers Frau Busche The Monkey's Paw Mrs Trelawne 1949 The History of Mr. Polly The Innkeeper A Boy, a Girl and a Bike Nan Ritchie 1950 No Place for Jennifer Mrs Marshall Mr. Gillie Mrs Gillie Live TV drama 1951 White Corridors Mrs. Briggs 1952 Secret People Penny Ivanhoe Servant to Isaac 1953 The Cruel Sea Tallow's sister Rough Shoot Mrs. Powell Personal Affair Vi Vining Trouble in Store Miss Gibson 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 1959 Tiger Bay Mrs Philips 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 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 1969 The Smashing Bird I Used to Know Matron 1972 Asylum Miss Higgins (segment: "Lucy Comes to Stay") 1975 The Amorous Milkman Iris

Television

Jenny Meade (1951, TV film) Dark Summer (1951, TV film) Heart to Heart (1962, TV film) – Lady Johnson The Human Jungle (1964, Episode, "Conscience on a Rack") – Dr Murphy Gideon's Way (1965, episode: "The Wall") – Landlord's wife Weavers Green (1966, TV serial) David Copperfield (1969, TV film) Ben Travers' Farces (1970, 3 episodes) The Befrienders (1970, TV film) – Janet Jane Eyre (1973, TV serial) – Mrs. Fairfax Orson Welles Great Mysteries (1973, TV series, series 1 episode 11: "The Monkey's Paw") – Mrs. White Crown Court (1974, episode: "Vermin") – Dr. Bridget Walker The Turn of the Screw (1974, TV film) – Mrs. Grose Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt (1976–1977) – Mrs Froggitt Worzel Gummidge (1979–1980) Mrs Braithwaite Young at Heart (1980–1982, TV sitcom) – Ethel Collyer A Woman of Substance (1985 TV film) – Mrs. Turner

References

External links

Stage performances on the Theatre Archive, University of Bristol