Glynis Johns

Birth Place: Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA

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Glynis Johns BIO

Glynis Margaret Payne Johns is a British retired actress, dancer, musician and singer. In a career spanning eight decades on stage and screen, Johns appeared in more than 60 films and 30 plays. She has received various accolades throughout her career, including a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award as well as nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Laurence Olivier Award. She is widely considered as being one of the last surviving major stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood and classical years of British cinema.

Johns was born in Pretoria, South Africa, the daughter of Welsh actor Mervyn Johns. She appeared on stage from a young age and was typecast as a stage dancer from early adolescence, making her screen debut in South Riding (1938). She rose to prominence in the 1940s following her role as Anna in the war drama film 49th Parallel (1941), for which she won a National Board of Review Award for Best Acting, and starring roles in Miranda (1948) and Third Time Lucky (1949). Following No Highway in the Sky (1951), a joint British-American production, Johns took on increasingly more roles in America and elsewhere. She made her television and Broadway debuts in 1952 and took on starring roles in such films as The Sword and the Rose (1953), The Weak and the Wicked (1954), Mad About Men (1954), The Court Jester (1955), The Sundowners (1960), The Cabinet of Caligari (1962), The Chapman Report (1962), and Under Milk Wood (1972). On television, she starred in her own sitcom Glynis (1963).

Renowned for the breathy quality of her husky voice, Johns sang songs written specifically for her both on screen and stage, including "Sister Suffragette", written by the Sherman Brothers for Disney's Mary Poppins (1964), in which she played Winifred Banks and for which she received a Laurel Award, and "Send In the Clowns", composed by Stephen Sondheim for Broadway's A Little Night Music (1973), in which she originated the role of Desiree Armfeldt and for which she received a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award.

Glynis Johns STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
1989
Lady Catherine Champion-Cheney

[Broadway]
Concert [Broadway], 1973
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1973
Desiree Armfeldt

[Broadway]
1963
The Patient

[Broadway]
1956
Barbara Undershaft

[Broadway]
1952
Gertie


Glynis Johns Movies

[1938]Prison Without Bars Nina

[1938]South Riding Midge Carne

[1938]Murder in the Family Marjorie Osborne

[1939]The Fugitive Mary Carr

[1940]Under Your Hat Winnie

[1940]The Briggs Family Sheila Briggs

[1941]49th Parallel Anna

[1943]The Adventures of Tartu Paula Palacek

[1944]The Halfway House Gwyneth - RhysDaughter

[1945]Vacation from Marriage Dizzy Clayton

[1946]This Man Is Mine Millie

[1947]Frieda Judy

[1947]An Ideal Husband Mabel Chiltern

[1948]Miranda Miranda Trewella

[1949]Dear Mr. Prohack Mimi Warburton

[1949]Third Time Lucky Joan Burns

[1950]The Great Manhunt Lisa Robinson

[1951]The Magic Box May Jones

[1951]Island Rescue Nicola Fallaize

[1951]No Highway in the Sky Marjorie Corder

[1951]Flesh and Blood Katherine

[1952]The Promoter Ruth Earp

[1953]The Sword and the Rose Princess Mary Tudor

[1953]Personal Affair Barbara Vining

[1953]Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue Helen Mary MacPherson MacGregor

[1954]Land of Fury Marion Southey

[1954]The Beachcomber Martha Jones

[1954]Young and Willing Jean Raymond

[1954]Mad About Men Caroline Trewella, Miranda Trewella

[1955]Josephine and Men Josephine Luton

[1955]The Court Jester Maid Jean

[1956]Around the World in 80 Days Sporting Lady's Companion

[1956]Loser Takes All Cary

[1957]All Mine to Give Jo Eunson

[1958]Another Time, Another Place Kay Trevor

[1959]Shake Hands with the Devil Kitty Brady

[1960]The Sundowners Mrs. Firth

[1960]The Spider's Web Clarissa Hailsham-Brown

[1962]The Chapman Report Teresa Harnish

[1963]Papa's Delicate Condition Amberlyn Griffith

[1964]Mary Poppins Mrs. Winnifred Banks

[1965]Dear Brigitte Vina Leaf

[1968]Don't Just Stand There Sabine Manning

[1969]Lock Up Your Daughters! Mrs. Squeezum

[1971]Under Milk Wood Myfanwy Price

[1987]Nukie Sister Anne

[1988]Zelly and Me Co-Co

[1994]The Ref Rose

[1995]While You Were Sleeping Elsie

[1999]Superstar Grandma


Glynis Johns TV Shows

Coming of Age Trudie Pepper

Glynis Johns Awards and Nominations

Drama Desk Awards - 1973 - Outstanding Performance

Glynis Johns, A Little Night Music

Glynis Johns Videos

Glynis Johns News


Wake Up With BroadwayWorld October 6, 2023

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is October 6, 2023 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Video: Tony Winner Glynis Johns Reflects on Her Career on Her 100th Birthday

Tony Award winning stage and screen actor Glynis Johns is celebrating her 100th birthday. In a new segment on ABC 7 she reflects on her career amidst this important birthday milestone. Watch the video here!

Review: THE MUSIC MAN at Moorestown Theater Company

What did our critic think of THE MUSIC MAN at Moorestown Theater Company?

Interview: Sara Jean Ford of North Carolina Theatre's MARY POPPINS

From July 25th-30th, North Carolina Theatre will be presenting MARY POPPINS at Raleigh Memorial Auditorium, which is located inside the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts. I had the great pleasure of interviewing actress Sara Jean Ford, who will be taking on the role of Winifred Banks. Some of her previous Broadway credits include THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, FINIAN’S RAINBOW, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, and CATS.

Video: Celebrate 50 Years of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

A Little Night Music opened on Broadway on February 25, 1973. Watch videos of the original and revival casts!

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, THE CIRCLE & More Announced for Classical Theatre Company 2022/2023 Season

A 2016 winner of the prestigious National Theatre Company Grant Award by the American Theatre Wing, Classical Theatre Company has announce the lineup for its 2022-2023 15th Anniversary Mainstage Season. As the only professional theatre company in the State of Texas that solely produces classical drama on a year-round basis,

BWW Review: Donna McKechnie Is Luminous In TAKE ME TO THE WORLD �" THE SONGS OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM at 54 Below

With her new Stephen Sondheim tribute show, Donna McKechnie is thrilling audiences and honoring a dear friend.

The Burry Fredrik Foundation Marks 10 Years Of Support For Connecticut's Non-Profit Professional Producing Theaters

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Burry Fredrik Foundation championing the growth and continuing health of Connecticut's non-profit professional producing theaters. Since 2012, the Foundation has granted over $3 million to a dozen Connecticut theaters with a proven track record of accomplishments. In 2022, $500,000 will be awarded. The Foundation was established by Burry Fredrik (1925-2012), a Tony Award-winning producer and noted director, who lived in Weston, CT.

BWW Review: Love Is In The Air During TO STEVE WITH LOVE: LIZ CALLAWAY CELBRATES SONDHEIM at 54 Below

Liz Callaway was there for the last forty years, and, now, she is sharing the music and the memories in TO STEVE WITH LOVE, her musical cabaret honoring Mr. Sondheim.

BWW Review: CABARET at NM Women's Club

Full confession: I was not jumping up and down to see another production of Cabaret. Chalk it up to Cabaret being the show that wouldn't die when I was in college - cast as a chorus member, it was a grueling rehearsal period and extended run, then we won American College Theater Festival for our region and had to come back early from winter break to recreate it, it literally went on for a good two thirds of my sophomore year. Some of the songs can give me PTSD. True fact.

BWW Interview: Alison Ewing of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at 42nd Street Moon Is Thrilled to Be Back Onstage in a Sondheim Classic

BroadwayWorld talks to leading lady Alison Ewing about playing Desiree in 42nd Street Moon's new production of Stephen Sondheim's 'A Little Night Music' playing November 4 to 21 in San Francisco.

De Cerca: David Pintó analiza 'Send In the Clowns'

El director y adaptador musical comenta en profundidad la pieza de Stephen Sondheim, de su musical A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Summer Classic Film Series Returns To The Majestic Theater in 2021

Gettysburg College's Majestic Theater celebrates the return of its summer classic film series in 2021 after a forced hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Enjoy classic movies in the beautifully restored historic theater Wednesday nights at 7:30 p.m. June through August. Tickets are just $7 and are on sale now. Advanced ticket purchase is strongly recommended.

Theater Stories: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CAROUSEL, SOUTH PACIFIC and More About The Majestic Theatre!

Today's Theater Stories features the Majestic Theatre! Learn about some of the best-known shows to grace the stage of the Majestic Theatre, including Carousel, South Pacific, Camelot, Phantom of the Opera, and many more!

UN DÍA COMO HOY: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC se estrenaba en Broadwayd

Un 25 de febrero, en 1973, se estrenaba por primera vez en Broadway A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, el musical con música y letra de Stephen Sondheim y libreto de Hugh Wheeler. Inspirado en la película de Ingmar Bergman SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT, el musical subía el telón del Shubert Theatre bajo la dirección de Harold Prince y con las coreografías de Patricia Birch.

Theater Stories: A CHORUS LINE, The HELLO, DOLLY! Revival, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD & More About The Shubert Theatre

This week's Theater Stories features the Shubert Theatre! Learn about one of the longest running Broadway shows of all time, A Chorus Line, the incredibly successful production of To Kill a Mockingbird, the star-studded revival of Hello, Dolly! and more.

New and Upcoming Releases For the Week of January 25 - KINKY BOOTS Blu-Ray, and More!

Need something new to read, watch, or listen to? Check out this week's list of new and upcoming releases! This week's list includes the Blu-Ray recording of the West End production of Kinky Boots, and more!

Theatre 40 Presents MAJOR REWRITE

Theatre Forty will present a reading of a new comedy by Michael Halperin, Major Rewrite, on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. PST via Zoom. The narrative is based on true events. In 1956 a constellation of charismatic stage and motion picture stars gather for an out-of-town performance of George Bernard Shaw's Major Barbara.

New and Upcoming Releases For the Week of November 9 - JAGGED LITTLE PILL Book, MOULIN ROUGE! Songbook, and More!

Need something new to read, watch, or listen to? Check out this week's list of new and upcoming releases! This week's list includes a book of stories behind the musical Jagged Little Pill, the Moulin Rouge! songbook, and more!

THE COURT JESTER Starring Danny Kaye, Newly Restored and Remastered, Celebrates Its 65th Anniversary

The hilariously zany classic THE COURT JESTER celebrates its 65th anniversary with a brand-new Blu-ray in the Paramount Presents line, debuting January 26, 2021 from Paramount Home Entertainment.

Glynis Johns FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Glynis Johns has appeared on Broadway in 6 shows.

Glynis Johns has not appeared in the West End

Glynis Johns has been nominated for several awards throughout her career. She was nominated for Actress of the Year in a New Play at the Olivier Awards for her performance in "Cause Celebre." She also received a nomination for Outstanding Performance at the Drama Desk Awards for her role in "A Little Night Music." Additionally, Johns was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for her performance in "A Little Night Music."

Glynis Johns has won several awards for her performances in the Broadway musical "A Little Night Music." She received the Outstanding Performance award at the Drama Desk Awards and the Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical award at the Tony Awards.

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