Marjorie Frances Esclairmonde Stewart (Lady Marling) (18 May 19129 November 1988) was a British actress and a member of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Early life and career

Stewart was born on 18 May 1912 in

Kensington, London Kensington is an area of London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, around west of Central London. The district's commercial heart is Kensington High Street, running on an east–west axis. The north-east is taken up by Kensing ...

, the daughter of Sir Frances Stewart. She started her acting career at a young age and by the age of five, made her theatrical debut and continued to perform in various

West End plays West is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some Romance langu ...

. Her early exposure to the stage set the foundation for her later career in acting.

World War II service

In 1939, Stewart's career took a pivotal turn when she joined the SOE. Initially employed as a lift operator, she quickly rose to the position of secretary to SOE Controller Patrick Howarth. Contrary to her film portrayal as a field agent, historical records suggest her primary contributions were administrative, though she played a key role in planning operations and possibly training female spies. Her connection with

Operation Postmaster Operation Postmaster was a British special operation conducted on the Spanish island of Fernando Po, now known as Bioko, off West Africa in the Gulf of Guinea, during the Second World War. The mission was carried out by the Small Scale Raiding ...

was mainly behind-the-scenes, involved in strategic planning rather than direct action.

Personal life

Stewart met Gustavus Henry March-Phillipps during the war and married him on 18 April 1942, shortly after Operation Postmaster. Subsequently, March-Phillips was killed later that year, and Stewart was left a widow. She gave birth to their daughter, Henrietta Sophia March-Phillipps, on June 15, 1943. After the war, she returned to her acting career and worked with at least 22 other productions. In November 1957 she married Major Sir John Stanley Vincent Marling, son of Sir Charles Murray Marling and Lucia Slade. Her married name then became Marling.

Acting career post-war

After leaving the SOE in 1946, Stewart resumed her acting career, taking on small roles in various films through the 1950s, including '' Little Big Shot'' and ''The Lost King''. Her acting career, while not as prominent as her early years, remained a significant part of her life until her retirement.

Death and legacy

Stewart died on 9 November 1988. While her cinematic portrayal introduced her to a wider audience, it is her quiet yet significant contributions to the war effort, particularly in supporting and planning roles within the SOE, that form her true legacy.

Popular culture

In the 2024 film ''

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare ''The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare'' is a 2024 action comedy war film directed, co-written and produced by Guy Ritchie, and starring Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Henry Golding and Alex Pettyfer. Based on the 2014 book ' ...

'', Stewart is portrayed by

Eiza González Eiza González Reyna (born 30 January 1990) is a Mexican actress and singer. She gained popularity for starring in the Argentine Nickelodeon teen sitcom '' Sueña conmigo'' (2010–2011). As a singer, she released the albums '' Contracorriente' ...

. The film, while taking considerable creative liberties, highlights the often-overlooked roles of women in wartime espionage. However, it is important to note that many aspects of her portrayal are fictionalised, including her direct participation in field operations and her depicted marksmanship skills.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, Marjorie 1912 births 1988 deaths British actresses Special Operations Executive personnel People from London People from Kensington British theatre people World War II spies for the United Kingdom