Millicent Martin
A versatile British performer who skewered politicians on groundbreaking TV satire, then charmed Broadway and American sitcoms for decades.
Born 1934 (age 92)·English actress and singer·Birthday: June 8·The Silent Generation
Biography
Millicent Martin's career is a masterclass in longevity and adaptability. She first grabbed Britain's attention in the early 1960s as the sharp, singing face of 'That Was The Week That Was,' delivering witty, topical songs that defined a new era of televised satire. Her bright eyes and crisp voice made political barbs palatable and hugely popular. Never one to be pigeonholed, she crossed the Atlantic and forged a formidable stage career, earning Tony nominations for her work in Stephen Sondheim revues and musicals, celebrated for her impeccable timing and clarion singing voice. Television audiences on both sides of the ocean came to adore her in later chapters: as the acerbic, loyal housekeeper Gertrude Moon on 'Frasier,' and decades later, as the spirited Joan Margaret on 'Grace & Frankie.' With a career spanning over sixty years, Martin moved effortlessly from cutting-edge satirist to beloved character actress, her intelligence and wit a constant thread through every role.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Millicent was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Millicent Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Millicent's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 80
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2026Age 92 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- She won a BAFTA TV Award in 1964 for her work as the singer of topical songs on the satirical show 'That Was The Week That Was.'
- She received Tony Award nominations for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for 'Side by Side by Sondheim' (1977) and 'King of Hearts' (1978).
- She originated the role of the singing narrator in Stephen Sondheim's 'Side by Side by Sondheim' in the West End and on Broadway.
- She played the recurring role of Gertrude Moon across five seasons of the NBC sitcom 'Frasier.'
Did You Know?
She performed the original theme song, 'That Was The Week That Was,' for the iconic BBC satire show.
She is the godmother of actress and singer Joanna Lumley.
She appeared in the 1966 film 'Alfie' alongside Michael Caine, singing the Burt Bacharach/Hal David song 'My Little Red Book.'
She was considered for the role of Patsy Stone in 'Absolutely Fabulous,' a part that eventually went to her goddaughter Joanna Lumley.
“Satire should be a scalpel, not a bludgeon.”
