Megs Jenkins


Muguette Mary "Megs" Jenkins 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 first noticeable film debut in Millions Like Us as the Welsh room-mate and confidante of the main character. She went on to appear in such films as Green for Danger, The History of Mr. Polly, The Cruel Sea, and Oliver!. She played the housekeeper, Mrs. Grose, in two adaptations of Henry James's The Turn of the Screw: the film The Innocents 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 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.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1939The Silent BattleLouiseReleased as Continental Express in USA
1939Secret JourneyReception girl in glassesUncredited
1939Poison PenBarmaid
1939Inspector Hornleigh on HolidayMaidUncredited
1943Millions Like UsGwen
1943The Lamp Still BurnsNurseUncredited
1944It's in the BagPeach St. Clair
194529 Acacia AvenueShirleyReleased as The Facts of Love in USA
1945Painted BoatsBarmaid
1947Green for DangerNurse Woods
1947The BrothersAugustina McFarish
1948Saraband for Dead LoversFrau Busche
1948The Monkey's PawMrs Trelawne
1949The History of Mr. PollyThe Innkeeper
1949A Boy, a Girl and a BikeNan Ritchie
1950No Place for JenniferMrs Marshall
1950Mr. GillieMrs GillieLive TV drama
1951White CorridorsMrs. Briggs
1952Secret PeoplePenny
1952IvanhoeServant to Isaac
1953The Cruel SeaTallow's sister
1953Rough ShootMrs. Powell
1953Personal AffairVi Vining
1953Trouble in StoreMiss Gibson
1954The Gay DogMaggie Gay
1955Out of the CloudsThe Landlady
1955John and JulieMrs Pritchett
1957The Man in the SkyMrs. Snowden
1957The Passionate StrangerMillie
1957The Story of Esther CostelloNurse Evans
1958IndiscreetDoris Banks
1959Tiger BayMrs Philips
1959Jet StormRose Brock
1959Friends and NeighboursLily Grimshaw
1960Conspiracy of HeartsSister Constance
1961The Green HelmetKitty Launder
1961The InnocentsMrs Grose
1962The Barber of Stamford HillMrs. Werner
1962Life for RuthMrs. Gordon
1962The Wild and the WillingMrs. Corbett
1964Murder Most FoulMrs Gladys Thomas
1965Bunny Lake Is MissingSister
1967Stranger in the HouseMrs. Christoforides
1968Oliver!Mrs Bedwin
1969The Smashing Bird I Used to KnowMatron
1972AsylumMiss Higgins
1975The Amorous MilkmanIris

Television