Person Biography:
Jane Merrow, a British actress of German descent, was born Jane Josephine Meirowsky on August 26, 1941, in Hertfordshire, England. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and was involved with the British National Youth Theatre, winning the Shakespeare Cup at the Kent Drama Festival.
Merrow's early theatre credits include roles in "Arms and the Man," "The Kitchen," "The Kings Mare," and "Country Dance." She transitioned to film and TV in 1961, earning bit roles in films such as "Why Bother to Knock!," "The Phantom of the Opera," and "Young and Willing." However, she gained recognition on TV, showcasing her talent for fragile and honest performances in roles like Oliver Twist's mother in the mini-series "Oliver Twist" and Rosamund in the TV series "Jane Eyre."
Merrow's versatility as an actress was showcased in her roles in both classic and modern productions. She played a classical heroine on stage, and her modern presence was evident in her lead role opposite Oliver Reed in the film "The Girl-Getters" and her appearances on swinging TV spy shows like "The Saint," "The Prisoner," "Secret Agent," and "The Avengers."
In 1968, Merrow enjoyed her finest hour on film with her Golden Globe-nominated role as young Alais, the adored young mistress to King Henry, in the Oscar-winning historical drama "The Lion in Winter" opposite Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn.
Merrow moved to America in the early 1970s and enjoyed a transcontinental career for nearly two decades. She appeared in sporadic films, including "Adam's Woman," "Hands of the Ripper," "Diagnosis: Murder," "The Appointment," and "Almosting It." On stage, she appeared in a production of "Arsenic and Old Lace" starring Zsa Zsa Gabor and Eva Gabor in Chicago.
Merrow was plentifully seen on America TV programs, including "Mission: Impossible," "Alias Smith and Jones," "Mannix," "Cannon," "Barnaby Jones," "The Six Million Dollar Man," "The Incredible Hulk," "Hart," "St. Elsewhere," "Days of Our Lives," "McGuyver," and "Airwolf." She also appeared in several TV-mini-series and TV-movies, including "The Hound of the Baskervilles," "The Horror at 37,000 Feet," "Once an Eagle," and "The Patricia Neal Story."
As Merrow's career slowed in the 1990s, she returned to England to run a family business. She did star as Vivien Leigh in a one-woman stage tribute that opened in Atlanta and returned to the stage as Emilia in Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" in 2009. She continues to divide her time between homes in London and Boise, Idaho.
