# Millicent Martin
**Millicent Martin** (full name Millicent Mary Lillian Martin, born 8 June 1934) is an English actress, singer, and comedian who came to prominence as the resident singer of topical songs on the [BBC Television](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-television) satire show *That Was The Week That Was* (1962–63) and later built a second career on Broadway and in American television.[1](https://deadorkicking.com/millicent-martin-dead-or-alive/) She is a Tony Award nominee, a BAFTA Television Award winner, and is known to US audiences for recurring roles as Gertrude Moon in *Frasier* and Joan-Margaret in *Grace & Frankie*.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/millicent_martin/) • [3](https://www.ecartelera.com.mx/personas/millicent-martin/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 8 June 1934, Romford, Essex, England; full name Millicent Mary Lillian Martin[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) |
| Training | Enrolled at the Italia Conti Stage School at age 12; stage debut in the children's chorus of *The Magic Flute*, Royal Opera House, 1948[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/martin-millicent-1934) |
| Breakthrough | Original Nancy in *The Boy Friend* on Broadway, Royale Theatre, from 30 September 1954[6](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/millicent-martin-51665) |
| British fame | Resident singer of topical songs on *That Was The Week That Was* (1962–63); BAFTA Television Award, Best Light Entertainment Artist, 1964[1](https://deadorkicking.com/millicent-martin-dead-or-alive/) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/millicent_martin/) |
| Broadway honors | Tony nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for *Side by Side by Sondheim* (1977) and *King of Hearts* (1979)[6](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/millicent-martin-51665) |
| Later US television | Gertrude Moon in *Frasier* (2000–04); Joan-Margaret in *Grace & Frankie* (2015–22)[3](https://www.ecartelera.com.mx/personas/millicent-martin/) |
| Marriages | Singer Ronnie Carroll (1959), actor Norman Eshley (1969), Marc Alexander (1978)[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) |
## Early life and stage beginnings
Martin was born in Romford, Essex, the daughter of a master builder.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) At twelve she enrolled in the Italia Conti Stage School, where her fellow pupils included [Anthony Newley](https://www.edgepedia.org/anthony-newley) and Johnny Briggs.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) Her first stage appearance was in the children's chorus of *The Magic Flute* at the [Royal Opera House](https://www.edgepedia.org/royal-opera-house) in 1948, followed by *The Lute Song* at the [Winter Garden Theatre](https://www.edgepedia.org/winter-garden-theatre) the same year.[5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/martin-millicent-1934)
At sixteen she was an £8-a-week chorus girl in *Blue For a Boy* and became one of the highest paid ITV song and dance girls.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) In a 2017 interview she described the apprenticeship that preceded her breakthrough: she joined the chorus of *South Pacific*, covering for [Mary Martin](https://www.edgepedia.org/mary-martin) after seven auditions, then moved into *Guys and Dolls* as understudy to Viviane Blaine.[7](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/)
## Broadway and the West End
Martin made her Broadway debut as Nancy in the original production of *The Boy Friend*, which opened at the Royale Theatre on 30 September 1954; she was also understudy for the roles of Maisie, Fay, Dulcie, and Lolita, and stayed with the show through its 1955–57 run.[6](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/millicent-martin-51665) She toured America in *The Boy Friend* from 1954 to 1957, living in New York with her co-star and friend [Julie Andrews](https://www.edgepedia.org/julie-andrews), and then played the show's lead in the West End.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) • [8](https://hgsheritage.org.uk/Detail/entities/P-PROF-MARTIN) • [7](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/) Back in London she appeared as Maisie in *Expresso Bongo* (1958), in *Our Man Crichton* (1964), and took the title role in *Peter Pan* at the Scala Theatre in 1967.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) • [5](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/martin-millicent-1934)
Her later Broadway work brought award recognition. She was in the original cast of the revue *Side by Side by Sondheim* in 1977, receiving a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and was nominated again in the same category for *King of Hearts* (1978–79), in which she played Madeleine.[6](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/millicent-martin-51665) In 1980 she joined the original Broadway production of *42nd Street* as a replacement in the leading role of Dorothy Brock, a part she also played in the show's Los Angeles run.[6](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/millicent-martin-51665) The Hampstead Garden Suburb heritage project, which records her years living in Ossulton Way, describes her as a noted interpreter of [Stephen Sondheim](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-sondheim).[8](https://hgsheritage.org.uk/Detail/entities/P-PROF-MARTIN)
## Television fame in Britain
Producer [Ned Sherrin](https://www.edgepedia.org/ned-sherrin) recruited Martin for *That Was The Week That Was*, the Saturday-night BBC satire program hosted by [David Frost](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-frost), where she sang the topical news songs.[7](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/) She joined the show in 1963 and remained with it for about a year and a half; the Sunday Post interview puts its audience at around 12 million viewers.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) • [7](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/) The show's scripts arrived on Saturday morning and were performed that night, a schedule she recalled as part of what the audience liked.[7](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/)
The role made her one of the best-known faces and voices in Britain by her twenties and led to her own series, *Mainly Millicent*.[7](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) In 1964 she was voted Television's Light Entertainment Personality of the Year and won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Light Entertainment Artist.[9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/millicent_martin/) She also recorded; her single "In the Summer of His Years," from the BBC tribute to [John F. Kennedy](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-f-kennedy), reached number 104 on the Billboard singles chart in 1963.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/)
## Film and American television
Martin made her film debut in 1960.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) Her screen credits include Ann Horton in *Nothing But the Best* (1964), an airline hostess in *Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines* (1965), and Siddie in *[Alfie](https://www.edgepedia.org/alfie-1966-film)* (1966).[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/millicent_martin/) • [10](https://film.one/person/millicent-martin)
From the 1990s she worked regularly in American television, resident in Beverly Hills.[11](https://musicaltheatrereview.com/interview-millicent-martin-returns-to-london-for-sondheim-birthday-gala/) She played [Daphne Moon](https://www.edgepedia.org/daphne-moon)'s mother Gertrude in the NBC sitcom *Frasier* between 2000 and 2004, and later had the recurring role of Joan-Margaret in *Grace & Frankie* from 2015 to 2022.[3](https://www.ecartelera.com.mx/personas/millicent-martin/) • [11](https://musicaltheatrereview.com/interview-millicent-martin-returns-to-london-for-sondheim-birthday-gala/) In 2017 she returned to Britain for the film *Melody The Musical*, appearing alongside [Joan Collins](https://www.edgepedia.org/joan-collins), Liz Hurley, John Barrowman, and [Michael Ball](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-ball).[7](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/)
## Personal life
Martin married the singer Ronnie Carroll in 1959; IMDb gives their divorce as 1965, while the Hampstead Garden Suburb heritage record gives 1964.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) • [8](https://hgsheritage.org.uk/Detail/entities/P-PROF-MARTIN) She then married the actor Norman Eshley in 1969, divorcing in 1973, and married her third husband, Marc Alexander, in 1978.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/) She has lived for much of her later life in Los Angeles.[7](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/)
## References
1. [Millicent Martin Death Fact Check, Birthday & Age, Dead or Kicking](https://deadorkicking.com/millicent-martin-dead-or-alive/)
2. [Millicent Martin, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/millicent_martin/)
3. [Millicent Martin, eCartelera México](https://www.ecartelera.com.mx/personas/millicent-martin/)
4. [Millicent Martin – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/bio/)
5. [Martin, Millicent 1934-, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/martin-millicent-1934)
6. [Millicent Martin – Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/millicent-martin-51665)
7. [Comic, singer and actress Millicent Martin says she's still going strong at 83, The Sunday Post (8 June 2017)](https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/comic-singer-and-actress-millicent-martin-says-shes-still-going-strong-at-82/)
8. [Millicent Mary Lillian Martin, Hampstead Garden Suburb Virtual Museum](https://hgsheritage.org.uk/Detail/entities/P-PROF-MARTIN)
9. [Millicent Martin, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0552815/)
10. [Millicent Martin, Fi1m](https://film.one/person/millicent-martin)
11. [Interview – Millicent Martin returns to London for Sondheim Birthday Gala, Musical Theatre Review](https://musicaltheatrereview.com/interview-millicent-martin-returns-to-london-for-sondheim-birthday-gala/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 1940s to 1960s › Surnames K to P*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license