Zena Marshall
Zena Marshall | |
|---|---|
| Born | Zena Moyra Marshall 1 January 1926 |
| Died | 10 July 2009 (aged 83) London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1945–1967 |
| Spouses |
|
Zena Moyra Marshall (1 January 1926 – 10 July 2009) was a British actress of film and television, best known for her appearances as Miss Taro in Dr. No (1962) and as Countess Ponticelli in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965).
Early life and education
Marshall was born in Nairobi, Kenya, to parents of English, Irish and French descent.[1] After her father's death and her mother's remarriage, she was brought up in Leicestershire, England. Marshall attended St Mary's, Ascot, and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).[2]
Career
Marshall worked with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) during the Second World War.[2][3] Marshall first acted on stage.[1] Her film career began with a small role in Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), with Claude Rains and Vivien Leigh.[4][5] Her exotic looks resulted in her being cast in "ethnic" roles, such as Asian women, including her role as the Chinese character Miss Taro, in the first James Bond film, Dr. No (1962).[2][6] She also appeared in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) as the Countess Ponticelli, and made numerous television appearances.[4] Her last film performance was in The Terrornauts in 1967.[7]
Personal life
Marshall married bandleader Paul Adam in 1947;[1][8] they divorced in 1953.[9][10] In 1955 Marshall screamed when a malfunctioning flashbulb caused her friend Violetta Elvin's dress to catch fire at a London theatre.[11] She later wed and divorced Alexander "Reggie" Ward,[9][12][13] before her final marriage to film producer Ivan Foxwell. Foxwell died in 2002, and she died of cancer on 10 July 2009, aged 83. Her gravesite is in St Thomas a Becket churchyard, Skeffington, Leicestershire.[1][14]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Caesar and Cleopatra | Lady-in-Waiting | Uncredited [5] |
| 1947 | The End of the River | Sante | [3] |
| 1948 | So Evil My Love | Lisette | [3] |
| 1948 | Snowbound | Italian Girl | [3] |
| 1948 | Miranda | Secretary | [3] |
| 1948 | Good-Time Girl | Annie Farrell | [3] |
| 1948 | Sleeping Car to Trieste | Suzanne | [15] |
| 1949 | The Bad Lord Byron | An Italian Woman | Uncredited |
| 1949 | Marry Me! | Marcelle Duclos | |
| 1949 | Helter Skelter | Giselle | [3] |
| 1949 | The Lost People | Anna | |
| 1949 | Meet Simon Cherry | Lisa Colville | |
| 1950 | Operation Disaster | The Wren | |
| 1950 | So Long at the Fair | Nina | |
| 1950 | Soho Conspiracy | Dora Scala | |
| 1950 | Dark Interval | Sonia Jordan | |
| 1951 | Hell Is Sold Out | Honeychild | |
| 1952 | Blind Man's Bluff | Christine Stevens | |
| 1952 | The Caretaker's Daughter | Fritzi Villiers | |
| 1953 | Deadly Nightshade | Ann Farrington | |
| 1953 | Men Against the Sun | Elizabeth | [16] |
| 1954 | The Scarlet Web | Laura Vane | |
| 1954 | The Embezzler | Mrs. Forrest | |
| 1955 | Three Cases of Murder | Beautiful Blonde | (segment "Lord Mountdrago"), Uncredited |
| 1956 | Bermuda Affair | Chris Walters | |
| 1956 | My Wife's Family | Hilda | |
| 1957 | Let's Be Happy | Helene | |
| 1958 | Dial 999 (TV series) ('Fashions in Crime', episode) | Laura Harris | |
| 1960 | A Story of David: The Hunted | Naomi | |
| 1962 | Crosstrap | Rina | |
| 1962 | Dr. No | Miss Taro | |
| 1962 | Backfire! | Pauline Logan | Edgar Wallace Mysteries |
| 1962 | The Guilty Party | Thelma Sinclair | The Scales of Justice |
| 1963 | The Switch | Caroline Markham | |
| 1964 | The Verdict | Carola | Edgar Wallace Mysteries |
| 1965 | Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines | Countess Sofia Ponticelli | |
| 1967 | The Terrornauts | Sandy Lund | (final film role) |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | The Adventures of Sir Percy Howsey | Margueritte | TV short |
| 1952 | The Inch Man | Helen Anastiadi | Episode: "The Quiet Voice" |
| 1952 | Sunday Night Theatre | Catherine | Episode: "The Portugal Lady" |
| 1953 | Your Favorite Story | Episode: "Work of Art" | |
| 1954 | Liebelei | Mitzi Schlager | TV film |
| 1955 | Saber of London | Audrey Lipton | Episode: "The Serpent Beneath" |
| 1956 | Colonel March of Scotland Yard | Madeleine | Episode: "The Silent Vow" |
| 1957 | O.S.S. | Lucille Genet | Episode: "Operation Flint Axe" |
| 1958 | African Patrol | Stella Stevens | Episode: "No Place to Hide" |
| 1958 | The Invisible Man | Tania | Episode: "The Locked Room" |
| 1960–1965 | The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (two appearances) (Edgar Wallace Mysteries) | ||
| 1960–1964 | Danger Man | Dr. LeClair, Mrs. Ramfi, Nadia | Episodes: "The Leak", "Find and Return", "Fish on the Hook" |
| 1962 | Sir Francis Drake | Maria | Episode: "The Bridge" |
| 1962 | Richard the Lionheart | Zara | Episode: "The Challenge" |
| 1962 | Man of the World | Madame Thiboeuf | Episode: "Death of a Conference" |
| 1962 | The Scales of Justice | Thelma Sinclair | Episode: "The Guilty Party" |
| 1963 | The Human Jungle | Vera Barclay | Episode: "Over and Out" |
| 1963 | The Sentimental Agent | Melina, Rita | Episodes: "A Little Sweetness and Light", "A Box of Tricks" |
| 1964 | Ghost Squad | Yvonne | Episode: "Dead Men Don't Drive" |
| 1965 | Dixon of Dock Green | Carol Wright | Episode: "Find the Lady" |
| 1965 | Public Eye | Jean Lawford | Episode: "You Have to Draw the Line Somewhere" |
| 1966 | Court Martial | Mara | Episode: "Let Slip the Dogs of War" |
References
- ^ a b c d "Zena Marshall". The Herald. 17 July 2009. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ a b c Gaughan, Gavin (26 July 2009). "Zena Marshall Obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Silver Screen; The Week's Personality". The Clydebank Press. 18 February 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Zena Marshall". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016.
- ^ a b "Over 700 at Film Ball". Evening Sentinel. 10 October 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ McFarlane, Brian; Slide, Anthony (16 May 2016). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-1-5261-1196-8 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Zena Marshall | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
- ^ "Bundle from Britain Arrives to Tune of Admiring Whistles". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). 22 October 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Helliwell, Arthur (26 January 1969). "Zena talks of her £50,000 nightmare". The Sunday People. p. 15. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Zena Marshall wins decree; And Miss X remains a mystery". Evening Standard. 25 June 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Exploding Flash Bulb Sets Fire to Violetta Elvin's Gown; Zena Marshall screams in the smoke". Evening Standard. 25 January 1955. p. 5. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Actress Accuses a Duchess". The Kansas City Times. Missouri, Kansas City. 29 April 1968. p. 2. Retrieved 10 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Divorce plea by Zena Marshall". Liverpool Daily Post (Merseyside ed.). 26 March 1968. p. 5. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Zena Marshall". The Herald. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
- ^ "Sleeping Car to Trieste". The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder. 10 July 1951. p. 5. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Beacon". Walsall Observer. 27 November 1953. p. 13. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.