Upstairs, Downstairs star Jean Marsh dead at 90 as fans pay tribute

British actress Jean Marsh, who is best known for her role in historical drama , has died from dementia related complications at the age of 90. The star died peacefully at her home in London on Sunday, with her close friend filmmaker by her side.

Jean played strict but loveable parlourmaid Rose Buck in the series, which earned her an for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She also co-created the show, which was set in Edwardian England and became a global television phenomenon in the 70s.

Upstairs, Downstairs ran in the UK from 1971 to 1975 and was later broadcast in the US, earning seven Emmy Awards, a BAFTA, and a Peabody. Jean's portrayal of Rose - the steady moral compass of the downstairs staff - made her a beloved figure on both sides of the Atlantic.

Marsh was born in Stoke Newington, north London in 1934. She began her acting career on stage before finding success in television and film. In the 50s and 60s she appeared in a wide range of productions, and quickly earned a reputation for the intense presence she brought to a performance.

She became a familiar face to sci-fi fans after starring in as the courageous space agent Sara Kingdom, who showed up in the 1965 episode The Daleks' Master Plan. Marsh was one of the first notable female characters in the show's history.

Her career on the big screen included roles in some very memorable cinematic titles, including Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange, Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy, and Walter Murch's dark fantasy Return to Oz. She also appeared as the terrifying sorceress Queen Bavmorda in Willow.

Television audiences continued to enjoy her work for decades, as she played a part in The Twilight Zone, The Love Boat, The House of Eliott and even the American sitcom 9 to 5. She also tackled Shaespearean roles, starring opposite legends like Laurence Olivier and .

Despite boasting such a wide range of credits, it was Upstairs, Downstairs that defined her career. In 2010 she returned to the role of Rose in a BBC revival of the series, but as a housekeeper this time. Marsh created the original series with her close friend Eileen Atkins.

Although she led a life in the spotlight, Marsh kept her personal life to herself. She was briefly married to actor in the 50s, who played the Third Doctor in Doctor Who, but not much is known about why their marriage ended.

However, things seemed to end on good terms as they remained friends after their split. During her life, Jean Marsh was also a writer and a passionate advocate for women's roles in the arts. On top of co-writing Upstairs, Downstairs, she published several novels and worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter.

Tributes have poured in from fans and industry figures, who remember her for her immense talent. One person mourned her loss, saying: "I'm truly sad today to hear we've lost the wonderful Jean Marsh. She was a brilliant actress, and a talented writer. I loved her so much as Rose Buck in Upstairs, Downstairs."

Another devastated fan shared: "Absolutely gutted & devastated to hear Jean Marsh has passed away. While most Whovians remember her from Battlefield & Daleks' Master Plan, I think of her more from Ghost Hunter. This was before I saw her in Dr Who. She sent chills down my spine in that. RIP legend."