With an acting career spanning over eight decades, Glynis Johns is among the oldest working actors.

The actress retired after appearing in almost 60 films and 30 stage productions. The parts she played in films like ‘Mary Poppins,’

‘49th Parallel,’and ‘The Sundowners’ made her a household name. Johns is a multi-talented performer who can act, dance, sing, and play the piano.

One of the oldest living actors, Johns is now 100 years old, having been born on October 5, 1923. In September of 2023,

Johns’ family made a formal request to the government of the United Kingdom for her to be made a Dame in honor of her 100th birthday.

The modern equivalent of a dame would be a knight. Those who have made significant contributions to a cause,

usually on a national scale, are often honored with this designation. Johns’s acting career has spanned many

years and has been both inspirational and significant, making her a fitting addition to this group.

Johns is a member of a stellar ancestry. Her actor father, Mervyn Johns, concert pianist mother,

and violin-playing grandmother all contributed to her musical upbringing. In the drama ‘South Riding’ from 1938,

she made her cinematic debut. After that, she starred alongside her father in films like ‘On the Night of the Fire’ and ‘The Halfway House.’

Throughout her career, the legendary actress shared the screen with many other great performers, such as Ralph Richardson, Deborah Kerr, and many others.

Johns’s incredible turn as a mermaid in ‘Miranda,’ as well as her appearance in ‘Helter Skelter,’ propelled her to the status of one of the U.K.’s most popular

stars by the decade’s close. She then went on to star in subsequent films including ‘Dear Mr. Prohack.’

Through the 1950s, Johns had a fascinating career as she rose to prominence, appearing in movies both in the UK and the US.

She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1960 for her role in ‘The Sundowners.’

However, her most famous part was in the 1960s, in the film ‘Mary Poppins.’In the 1970s, Stephen Sondheim composed ‘Send in the Clowns” specifically for Johns.

This was done in remembrance of her. She was recognized as a Disney Legend in the late ’90s and earned a Tony Award for her performance in the musical ‘A Little Night Music,’

from which the song was adapted. In addition to her Tony Award for ‘A Little Night Music,’ which Johns also won,

she also received a National Board of Review Award for ‘49th Parallel’ and a Drama Desk Award for ‘Outstanding Actress in a Musical.’

Johns shared the screen with such notable actors as Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Long, and James Stewart throughout her career. She had four marriages and outlived them all.

Her grandson, Thomas Forwood, is the person to whom John is the most closely related at this time.

Johns, who eventually retired from acting, made her last film cameo in ‘Superstar’ in 1999. In the film, she shared the screen with Will Ferrell.

The actress now spends her days peacefully in a Beverly Hills retirement community. The public hasn’t seen much

of Johns since she turned 90. But that hasn’t stopped her from garnering adoring fans from all across the globe.

One can assume from looking at Johns’ eight-decade acting career that the great star has sufficiently solidified her stardom that it would

be justified to add the damehood to her list of lifetime accomplishments. Forwood, the actress’s grandson, spoke candidly with Daily Mail about the family’s desire. He revealed:

‘Glynis has a fantastic career spanning many decades, showcasing her incredible talent and adaptability

in a variety of roles on stage and screen. The entire family is incredibly proud of her accomplishments.

He continued, ‘It would be fitting on this occasion for the UK government to formally acknowledge her cultural contribution by making her a Dame.’

While never seeking to minimize their accomplishments, Forwood said after mentioning a few performers who had received the damehood,

‘And while I would never seek to diminish their achievements, I do feel that in this context it’s clear that Glynis has been overlooked.’

As much time has passed without Johns receiving recognition, the screenwriter continued, the government should ‘make up for lost time by making her a Dame immediately.’

The same sentiment was shared by other admirers of the actress’s excellent work, including senior Labour MP Chris Bryant

and screenwriter Richard Luck. According to Luck, ‘Hers is a fascinating career, not least because it’s had so many phases.’

On October 5, 2023, Johns’ birthday, ABC7 featured Johns’ comments on her eight-decade career.

The answer she gave when asked how 100 felt was, ‘It doesn’t make any difference to me.’ She also remarked on

how beautiful it was that even as she reached her 100th birthday, people’s appreciation of her work remained strong.