Thomas Forwood, a Paris-based screenwriter and grandson of the late actress Glynis Johns, reflects on the remarkable legacy of his iconic grandmother and the artistic lineage from which he hails.
In an exclusive interview with the Express in 2023, Thomas Forwood shared insights into the private struggles of his grandmother, Glynis Johns, who passed away on January 4, 2024. He revealed that despite her seemingly confident exterior, Glynis Johns battled “crippling stage fright,” making her illustrious career even more remarkable.
“Growing up, it was strange telling my friends that my grandma was in Batman or seeing her in Mary Poppins. But I’m immensely proud of her,” Thomas Forwood expressed, emphasizing the pride he feels for his grandmother’s achievements.
A Family Legacy in the Spotlight
Thomas Forwood, born on March 25, 1974, in Wimbledon, is the son of Gareth Forwood and Veronique Lecoq. Hailing from a family steeped in theatrical history, Thomas is the fifth generation of actors on his mother’s side. Gareth Forwood’s matrilineal great-grandmother, according to Dicy Trends, inherited a production company, marking the beginning of a rich legacy in the world of entertainment.
Both of Thomas Forwood’s grandparents, Anthony Forwood and Glynis Johns, were distinguished actors. His father, Gareth Forwood, also an actor, left behind a significant contribution to the industry before his passing from cancer in 2007.
Thomas Forwood: A Writer and Director
Renowned for his work in Courts mais GAY: Tome 12 (2006), Le moment venu (2006), and Crash of the Century (2005), Thomas Forwood has made a name for himself as a talented writer and director. Now 48, he resides in Paris, where he continues to contribute to the cinematic landscape.
In a statement to the Express, Thomas Forwood provided a glimpse into his family’s unique dynamics and the pride he feels for his grandmother’s achievements: “There’s so much of her incredible career that I’ve only seen a fraction of myself. But I’m immensely proud of her.”
Glynis Johns: A Screen Icon
Glynis Johns, born into a family of actors on October 5, 1923, in South Africa, began her journey in the spotlight at an early age. Her first onscreen role as a mermaid in Miranda marked the beginning of a stellar career that spanned decades.
From her Oscar-nominated performance in The Sundowners (1960) to winning a Tony Award for A Little Night Music, Glynis Johns left an indelible mark on both stage and screen. Her most iconic role as Winifred Banks in Disney’s Mary Poppins, for which she performed the beloved song Sister Suffragette, contributed to her unofficial title as the “world’s oldest living screen star” until her passing.
Johns’s last acting role was in the 1999 film Superstar before she retired to a quiet life in America. Thomas Forwood shared that his grandmother lived “very quietly” in a retirement home in Beverly Hills in the last years of her life.
As the world mourns the loss of a cinematic legend, Glynis Johns’s influence will undoubtedly endure, carried forward by her grandson Thomas Forwood and the generations to come. The family’s commitment to the arts and its enduring legacy serve as a testament to the power of talent and storytelling that transcends time.