Glynis Johns, the celebrated actress best known to generations as the spirited feminist, Winifred Banks, in Disney’s timeless classic Mary Poppins, passed away on Thursday, January 4, in Los Angeles from natural causes. She was 100 years old. Her passing marks the end of an era for Disney enthusiasts and film lovers alike, remembering a career that spanned decades and showcased her remarkable talent across stage and screen.
For Disney fans worldwide, Glynis Johns will forever be synonymous with Winifred Banks in the Academy Award®-winning masterpiece, Mary Poppins (1964). Her portrayal of the passionate suffragette resonated deeply, making her a beloved figure. It was Walt Disney himself who recognized her unique charm and personally selected Glynis Johns for this career-defining role. His intuition proved correct; as film critic Leonard Maltin noted in The Disney Films, Glynis Johns illuminated the screen from her first scene in Mary Poppins. Maltin highlighted her ability to make every moment count, and her performance of the “suffragette song” remains a delightful and memorable part of the film.
Glynis Johns’ journey to becoming a Disney Legend, officially inducted in 1998, began on October 5, 1923, in Pretoria, South Africa, born to Welsh parents. Her prodigious talent was evident from a young age. Remarkably, she earned a degree to teach dance by the age of ten. By twelve, her dance prowess was further recognized with 25 gold medals in England. Her foray into film started early as well, with her first appearance at just 13 years old in South Riding (1938). Glynis Johns transitioned into mature roles with Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s 49th Parallel (1941), known as The Invaders in America, sharing the screen with luminaries such as Laurence Olivier, Leslie Howard, and Raymond Massey. By 19, she achieved another milestone, becoming the youngest actress to embody the iconic lead in a theatrical production of Peter Pan.
Her association with The Walt Disney Studios deepened in the early 1950s as the studio expanded into live-action film production in England. This collaboration resulted in Glynis Johns taking on leading roles in several Disney productions.
She embodied the role of the headstrong Mary Tudor in 1953’s The Sword and the Rose, alongside Richard Todd. In another Disney venture, Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (1953), Glynis Johns portrayed Helen Mary MacGregor, the spirited wife of a Scottish freedom fighter. Then, a decade later, she returned to Disney to grace the screen in Mary Poppins in 1964. This cinematic triumph received an impressive 13 Academy Award® nominations and ultimately secured five Oscars®, solidifying its place in film history and cementing Glynis Johns’ legacy within the Disney family.
Beyond her memorable Disney roles, Glynis Johns showcased her versatility across television. She starred in shows like General Electric Theatre and The Cavanaughs, and even headlined her own series titled Glynis. Her guest appearances included iconic series such as Batman, Cheers, and Murder She Wrote, where she shared the screen with fellow Disney Legend Angela Lansbury.
In 1960, Glynis Johns received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her compelling performance as Mrs. Firth in The Sundowners, starring Robert Mitchum. Her talent extended to the stage, earning her a Tony Award® in 1973 for her captivating portrayal of Desiree Armfeldt in the original production of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music. Stephen Sondheim himself lauded Glynis Johns’ rendition of “Send in the Clowns” as his definitive favorite, a testament to her profound artistic impact.
Throughout her illustrious career, Glynis Johns graced over two dozen theatrical productions and more than 50 feature films. Her filmography includes Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband (1947) with Paulette Goddard and Dear Brigitte (1965) alongside James Stewart. She also appeared in a television adaptation of The Secret Garden for ABC, a children’s anthology series, with Derek Jacobi.
In 1994, Glynis Johns revisited The Walt Disney Studios to co-star in the Touchstone comedy The Ref. The following year, she featured in the Hollywood Pictures blockbuster While You Were Sleeping, starring Sandra Bullock. Her presence also extended to documentary films, with appearances in archival footage for Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious: The Making of ‘Mary Poppins’ (2004) and the HBO documentary Six by Sondheim (2013). Glynis Johns leaves behind an indelible mark on the entertainment world. Her contributions as a Disney Legend and an accomplished actress will be cherished and remembered by audiences for generations to come.
