Megs Jenkins

Muguette Mary Jenkins, known professionally as Megs Jenkins, was born on 21 April 1917 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, the daughter of a construction engineer. She died on 5 October 1998. An English character actress, she built a career spanning stage, film, and television over several decades, with her work taking her from the British stage to Broadway.

Jenkins began her training as a ballet dancer before transitioning to acting. Her stage career commenced in 1933, and she went on to appear in several productions by Welsh playwright Emlyn Williams, including The Light of Heart in 1940. In 1952 she took part in the West End comedy The Gay Dog, a role she reprised in the 1954 film adaptation. The following year she appeared in N.C. Hunter's drama A Day by the Sea, which transferred to Broadway in 1955, marking her appearance on the New York stage. In 1956, her performance in Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge earned her the Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting performance.

Her film career gained early momentum with Millions Like Us in 1943, in which she played the Welsh roommate and confidante of the character portrayed by Patricia Roc. Despite being English, Jenkins frequently portrayed Welsh characters throughout her career. She went on to appear in Green for Danger (1946), The History of Mr. Polly (1949), and The Cruel Sea (1953). One of her most recurring screen roles was that of Mrs. Grose, the housekeeper in Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, which she played first in the 1961 film The Innocents and again in a 1974 television adaptation. She also appeared in the musical film Oliver! in 1968.

Jenkins married George Routledge in 1943. Routledge, a commando and childhood classmate, had renewed contact with her after seeing her name in a review. The marriage ended in divorce in 1959.

On television, Jenkins demonstrated considerable range across drama and comedy. Her credits included the 1969 television film David Copperfield, the 1973 serial Jane Eyre in which she played Mrs. Fairfax, and A Woman of Substance in 1985. In later life she became a familiar face in comedy programming, appearing as Mrs. Froggitt in the sitcom Oh No It's Selwyn Froggitt from 1976 to 1977, and as Mrs. Braithwaite in the children's series Worzel Gummidge from 1979 to 1980.