Because of her unusually shaped eyes, she got this nickname early in her career. No one is clear on who started it but the name stuck.
Johns won a Tony Award for her performance in “A Little Night Music,” a role often cited as one of the most prominent in her career. She played Desiree Armfeldt, a glamorous actress reduced to playing in small-time plays. Her performance was regarded as one of the best in Broadway history.
Johns was married and divorced four times. She had a child with first husband, Anthony Forwood. Gareth Forwood is also an actor. She then married David Ramsey Foster in 1952 but this marriage ended shortly after. Her third marriage was in 1960 to Cecil Henderson and lasted two years. Finally, she married her fourth husband, Elliot Arnold in 1964. This did not last long either.
Walt Disney loved Johns’ onscreen persona and personally asked her to play Mrs. Banks in “Mary Poppins.” His choice proved spot-on. Critics raved about Johns’ performance. Film critic Leonard Maltin said in his book, “The Disney Films,” “She lights up the screen the minute she appears.” Johns was named a Disney Legend in 1998. (D23.com)
Glynis’s dad married actress Diana Churchill in 1976. Glynis and Diana are known to have been close and often helped each other with acting gigs and advice. Acting ran in the family and helped Johns reach superstardom at a young age.
In 1944 at age 21, Johns appeared with her father in “The Halfway House.” The film was only slightly successful but working with her father was a highlight. This role also made her eager to dive deeper into the business of acting.
Not only was she a talented singer, dancer and pianist, but also a capable dancer. By age 10 she was working as a dance instructor. If that wasn’t impressive enough, by age 12 she had won 25 gold medals in England for dance.
Her classical good looks made Johns one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood. Some considered her among the most beautiful women of all time. Her platinum-blonde hair and sparkly “upside-down” eyes made her a standout.
Johns played Molly Shannon’s spunky grandmother in the 1999 comedy. It was an unexpected role for the actress, but funny and daring nonetheless! This was Johns’s last appearance in a feature film to date.
With a voice as famous as Johns’, people were knocking on her door to have her sing their songs. The raspy, husky and alluring quality of her voice made every performance memorizing and unforgettable. Two of the most famous include “Send in the Clowns” by Stephen Sondheim and “Sister Suffragette” by the Sherman Brothers.
