Barbara Mullen (9 June 1914 – 9 March 1979[1]) was an American-born actress well known in the United Kingdom for playing the part of Janet McPherson, the housekeeper in Dr. Finlay's Casebook.[2] Although the role of Janet brought her fame in later years, she already had made her mark in the theatre.
Mullen's parents were Pat and Bridget. Pat was from a fishing family on Inishmore island off the coast of County Galway, Ireland. He met his first wife, Bridget in South Boston, Massachusetts, where she had emigrated from Galway with her late husband, Patrick Crowe. Mullen was born in Boston. She made her stage debut as a dancer at the age of three. When her father returned to Aran, later contributing to the making of Man of Aran, the classic documentary film by Robert J. Flaherty,[3] her mother stayed in the U.S. to bring up the 8 children. Mullen sang and danced in various theatres all over the U.S. and then moved to the UK in 1934, where she trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
She wrote Life is my Adventure, her autobiography, at 23. A year later she made her London debut, acting the title role in the London West End production of Jeannie, a comedy about a Scottish girl taking a European holiday after coming into money. She became an overnight star.
Mullen repeated the role of 'Jeannie' on television and in the 1941 British film, which was her cinema debut, alongside Michael Redgrave, and she followed this with appearances in 20 more films, including A Place of One's Own, Corridor of Mirrors and Innocent Sinners. She also played a notable role in the 1942 film version of Robert Ardrey's Thunder Rock as Ellen Kirby, the feminist who is jailed for her subversive ideas.[4]
She was married to documentary film-maker John Taylor, Man of Aran's cameraman,[1] and they had two daughters, Briged and Susannah.
She appeared on television in America and Britain in programmes such as Juno and the Paycock and The Danny Thomas Show before being offered the role in Dr. Finlay's Casebook, which began on the BBC in 1962. Her character, Janet McPherson, was the ever-efficient housekeeper to Doctors Finlay and Cameron at Arden House in the fictional Scottish village of Tannochbrae. When the series was nearing its end on television, in 1970 it transferred to radio - running until 1978.
Life is My Adventure, Barbara Mullen, Faber & Faber, London, 1937.
Man of Aran, Pat Mullen, E.P. Dutton & Co., New York, 1935.
Referencesedit
^ abc"Mullen, Barbara Eleanor (1914–1979)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/55530. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Janet the housekeeper, Dr. Finlay's Casebook: IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 18 March 2008.
^Daughter of Pat Mullen: RootsWeb website. Retrieved on 18 March 2008.
^Ellen Kirby in Thunder Rock (1942): IMDB.com website. Retrieved on 18 March 2008.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barbara Mullen.
barbara, mullen, june, 1914, march, 1979, american, born, actress, well, known, united, kingdom, playing, part, janet, mcpherson, housekeeper, finlay, casebook, although, role, janet, brought, fame, later, years, already, made, mark, theatre, mullen, episode, . Barbara Mullen 9 June 1914 9 March 1979 1 was an American born actress well known in the United Kingdom for playing the part of Janet McPherson the housekeeper in Dr Finlay s Casebook 2 Although the role of Janet brought her fame in later years she already had made her mark in the theatre Barbara MullenMullen in an episode of One Step Beyond 1960 BornBarbara Eleanor Mullen 1914 06 09 June 9 1914Boston Massachusetts U S DiedMarch 9 1979 1979 03 09 aged 64 London EnglandOccupationTelevision actressYears active1941 1978SpouseJohn TaylorParent s Pat Mullen Bridget Mullen Mullen s parents were Pat and Bridget Pat was from a fishing family on Inishmore island off the coast of County Galway Ireland He met his first wife Bridget in South Boston Massachusetts where she had emigrated from Galway with her late husband Patrick Crowe Mullen was born in Boston She made her stage debut as a dancer at the age of three When her father returned to Aran later contributing to the making of Man of Aran the classic documentary film by Robert J Flaherty 3 her mother stayed in the U S to bring up the 8 children Mullen sang and danced in various theatres all over the U S and then moved to the UK in 1934 where she trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art She wrote Life is my Adventure her autobiography at 23 A year later she made her London debut acting the title role in the London West End production of Jeannie a comedy about a Scottish girl taking a European holiday after coming into money She became an overnight star She later succeeded Celia Johnson as Mrs De Winter in Daphne du Maurier s Rebecca played Maggie in a revival of What Every Woman Knows by J M Barrie and played the aged sleuth Miss Marple in The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie Mullen repeated the role of Jeannie on television and in the 1941 British film which was her cinema debut alongside Michael Redgrave and she followed this with appearances in 20 more films including A Place of One s Own Corridor of Mirrors and Innocent Sinners She also played a notable role in the 1942 film version of Robert Ardrey s Thunder Rock as Ellen Kirby the feminist who is jailed for her subversive ideas 4 She was married to documentary film maker John Taylor Man of Aran s cameraman 1 and they had two daughters Briged and Susannah She appeared on television in America and Britain in programmes such as Juno and the Paycock and The Danny Thomas Show before being offered the role in Dr Finlay s Casebook which began on the BBC in 1962 Her character Janet McPherson was the ever efficient housekeeper to Doctors Finlay and Cameron at Arden House in the fictional Scottish village of Tannochbrae When the series was nearing its end on television in 1970 it transferred to radio running until 1978 She was the subject of This Is Your Life in March 1964 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in central London Barbara Mullen died at Hammersmith Hospital London from a heart attack on 9 March 1979 1 Contents 1 Filmography 2 Sources 3 References 4 External linksFilmography editYear Title Role Notes 1941 Jeannie Jeannie McLean 1942 Thunder Rock Ellen Kirby 1944 Welcome Mr Washington Jane Willoughby 1945 A Place of One s Own Mrs Smedhurst 1946 The Trojan Brothers Margie Castelli 1948 Corridor of Mirrors Veronica My Sister and I Hypatia Foley 1951 Talk of a Million Bessie Murnahan 1952 So Little Time Anna The Gentle Gunman Molly Fagan 1954 The Last Moment Mrs O Driscoll segment The Sensible Man Destination Milan Miss Busbee 1958 Innocent Sinners Mrs Vincent 1959 The Siege of Pinchgut Mrs Fulton 1960 The Challenge Ma Piper 1963 The Very Edge Dr Shaw 1966 Miss MacTaggart Won t Lie Down Miss MacTaggart short filmSources editLife is My Adventure Barbara Mullen Faber amp Faber London 1937 Man of Aran Pat Mullen E P Dutton amp Co New York 1935 References edit a b c Mullen Barbara Eleanor 1914 1979 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 55530 Subscription or UK public library membership required Janet the housekeeper Dr Finlay s Casebook IMDB com website Retrieved on 18 March 2008 Daughter of Pat Mullen RootsWeb website Retrieved on 18 March 2008 Ellen Kirby in Thunder Rock 1942 IMDB com website Retrieved on 18 March 2008 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barbara Mullen nbsp Biography portal Barbara Mullen at IMDb This Is Your Life Barbara Mullen in 1964 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barbara Mullen amp oldid 1211822793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
