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Zena Marshall

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Zena Marshall
Born
Zena Moyra Marshall

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

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

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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

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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 and death

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Marshall married bandleader Paul Adam in January 1946;[1][8] they divorced in 1953, owing to "misconduct" with a woman referred to only as "Miss X".[9][10] She later wed and divorced Alexander "Reggie" Ward,[9][11][12] before her final marriage to film producer Ivan Foxwell. He died in 2002. Marshall died of cancer on 10 July 2009, aged 83. Her gravesite is in St Thomas a Becket churchyard, Skeffington, Leicestershire.[1][13]

Filmography

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Film

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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]
Snowbound Italian Girl [3]
Miranda Secretary [3]
Good-Time Girl Annie Farrell [3]
Sleeping Car to Trieste Suzanne [14]
1949 The Bad Lord Byron An Italian Woman Uncredited
Marry Me! Marcelle Duclos
Helter Skelter Giselle [3]
The Lost People Anna
Meet Simon Cherry Lisa Colville
1950 Operation Disaster The Wren
So Long at the Fair Nina
Soho Conspiracy Dora Scala
Dark Interval Sonia Jordan
1951 Hell Is Sold Out Honeychild
1952 Blind Man's Bluff Christine Stevens
The Caretaker's Daughter Fritzi Villiers
1953 Deadly Nightshade Ann Farrington
Men Against the Sun Elizabeth [15]
1954 The Scarlet Web Laura Vane
The Embezzler Mrs. Forrest
1955 Three Cases of Murder Beautiful Blonde (segment "Lord Mountdrago"), Uncredited
1956 Bermuda Affair Chris Walters
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
Dr. No Miss Taro
Backfire! Pauline Logan Edgar Wallace Mysteries
1963 The Scales of Justice Thelma Sinclair
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

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Year Title Role Notes
1950 The Adventures of Sir Percy Howsey Margueritte TV short
1952 The Inch Man Helen Anastiadi Episode: "The Quiet Voice"
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"
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"
Richard the Lionheart Zara Episode: "The Challenge"
Man of the World Madame Thiboeuf Episode: "Death of a Conference"
1963 The Human Jungle Vera Barclay Episode: "Over and Out"
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"
Public Eye Jean Lawford Episode: "You Have to Draw the Line Somewhere"
1966 Court Martial Mara Episode: "Let Slip the Dogs of War"

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Zena Marshall". The Herald. 17 July 2009. Archived from the original on 10 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "Zena Marshall". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Over 700 at Film Ball". Evening Sentinel. 10 October 1947. p. 1. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Zena Marshall | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie.
  8. ^ "Bundle from Britain Arrives to Tune of Admiring Whistles". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). 22 October 1951. p. 4. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Zena Marshall wins decree; And Miss X remains a mystery". Evening Standard. 25 June 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Actress Accuses a Duchess". The Kansas City Times. Missouri, Kansas City. 29 April 1968. p. 2. Retrieved 10 June 2017 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. ^ "Divorce plea by Zena Marshall". Liverpool Daily Post (Merseyside ed.). 26 March 1968. p. 5. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Zena Marshall". The Herald. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Sleeping Car to Trieste". The Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder. 10 July 1951. p. 5. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Beacon". Walsall Observer. 27 November 1953. p. 13. Retrieved 3 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
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