Marsh began her career in her native England....
Marsh began her career in her native England as a cabaret singer and photographer's model. She made her feature film debut in "The Tales of Hoffman" (1951) but did not begin to act on the big screen in earnest until 1963's "Cleopatra". She had a brief role as a receptionist in Alfred Hitchcock's "Frenzy" (1972). Perhaps her best screen role to date was the evil queen in Ron Howard's fantasy "Willow" (1988).
The London-born Marsh studied acting, dance, mime and singer and initially found some success as a photographer's model. After working in repertory theater in England, she made her Broadway debut as Hero in "Much Ado About Nothing" (1959). Other stage credits include the Broadway productions of "Habeas Corpus" (1976-76) and "Who's Life Is It Anyway?" (1979) and "Travesties" and "The Importance of Being Earnest" (both 1977) in L.A.
Television, however, has accounted for the bulk of Marsh's success. She made her US debut with the 1959 "Hallmark Hall of Fame" production of "The Moon and Sixpence" (NBC) and has been featured in British productions of "Uncle Vanya", "Twelfth Night" and "Pygmalion". In 1971, she and fellow actor Eileen Atkins created "Upstairs, Downstairs" for British TV. Following the exploits of an aristocratic family and their servants in the early part of the Twentieth Century, "Upstairs, Downstairs" was an immediate success. Marsh was cast to play Rose, the loyal discreet housemaid and went on to earn a 1975 Best Actress Emmy for the role. (Atkins was to have played her cohort Sarah, but was unavailable and the role went to Pauline Collins). Marsh subsequently appeared as Roz, the role originated by Elizabeth Wilson, in the sitcom version of the hit film "9 to 5" (ABC, 1982-83). She and Atkins reteamed to create "The House of Elliot" (A&E, 1992-93), about two sisters in 1920s London who find success as fashion designers. Marsh has made infrequent appearances in TV-movies; among her best are a turn as Morgana in "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (NBC, 1989) and a small role as a Nazi actress in "Fatherland" (HBO, 1994), for which she earned a CableACE award.