Zena Marshall

Zena Moyra Marshall (1 January 1926 – 10 July 2009) was a British actress of film and television, who was born in Kenya.

Zena Marshall
Born
Zena Moyra Marshall

(1926-01-01)1 January 1926
Nairobi, Kenya
Died10 July 2009(2009-07-10) (aged 83)
London, England, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
OccupationActress
Years active1945–1967
Spouse(s)
  • Paul Adam
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1947; div. 1953)​
  • Alexander Ward
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1967; div. 1969)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1991; died 2002)​

Early years

Although she was born in Nairobi, Zena Marshall grew up in Leicestershire following her father's death and her mother's remarriage. Marshall was of English, Irish and (on her mother's side) French descent.[1]

Career

Marshall attended St Mary's, Ascot and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). She worked with Ensa (the Entertainments National Service Association) during the Second World War.[2]

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.[3] 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][4] She also appeared in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965) as the Countess Ponticelli, and made numerous television appearances.[3] Her last film performance was in The Terrornauts in 1967.[5]

Personal life

Marshall married bandleader Paul Adam in 1947[1] and later wed Alexander Ward,[6] before her final marriage to film producer Ivan Foxwell (died 2002). All these unions were childless.

Death

Zena Marshall died of cancer in 2009, aged 83. She was interred in St Thomas a Becket Churchyard, Skeffington, Harborough District, Leicestershire, England.[7][1]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1945 Caesar and Cleopatra Lady-in-Waiting Uncredited
1947 The End of the River Sante
1948 So Evil My Love Lisette
1948 Snowbound Italian Girl
1948 Miranda Secretary
1948 Good-Time Girl Annie Farrell
1948 Sleeping Car to Trieste Suzanne
1949 The Bad Lord Byron An Italian Woman Uncredited
1949 Marry Me! Marcelle Duclos
1949 Helter Skelter Giselle
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
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
1960 A Story of David: The Hunted Naomi
1962 Crosstrap Rina
1962 Dr. No Miss Taro
1962 Backfire! Pauline Logan Edgar Wallace Mysteries
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"
1960–1964 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
  1. "Zena Marshall". The Herald. 17 July 2009. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  2. Gaughan, Gavin (26 July 2009). "Zena Marshall Obituary". The Guardian.
  3. "Zena Marshall". BFI.
  4. McFarlane, Brian; Slide, Anthony (16 May 2016). "The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition". Manchester University Press – via Google Books.
  5. "Zena Marshall | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
  6. "Actress Accuses a Duchess". The Kansas City Times. Missouri, Kansas City. 29 April 1968. p. 2. Retrieved 10 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Obituary, heraldscotland.com; accessed 17 March 2020.
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