20 Photographs of a Young Glynis Johns as a Mermaid in “Miranda” (1948)

In the 1948 British fantasy comedy Miranda, Glynis Johns brought the playful, flirtatious mermaid Miranda Trewella to life. Her portrayal relied heavily on specialized practical effects, unique wardrobe designs, and her iconic personal charm to pull off the illusion of a creature from the deep.

One of the most notable aspects of her transformation was the construction of her mermaid tail. In a rare cinematic collaboration, The Dunlop Rubber Company was commissioned to design and manufacture the prosthetic tail, earning them a unique “Tail by Dunlop” credit in the opening titles.

Dunlop created two separate rubber tails for the production. One was specifically engineered for optimal movement and buoyancy during her swimming scenes in the water, while the other was designed for her “dry” scenes out of water. Because the rubber tail was incredibly heavy and completely immobilized her legs, Johns had to be physically carried around the studio lot by crew members and co-stars. Her co-star David Tomlinson frequently recalled how taxing it was to transport her from scene to scene.

Unlike modern mermaid movies where characters magically sprout legs when dry, Miranda keeps her tail for the entire film. To sneak her into a London household, the characters disguise her as a wheelchair-bound invalid named Miss Treeweller. The production hid her massive rubber tail by dressing her in beautiful, custom-made day and evening gowns that were intentionally tailored one foot longer than standard dresses. This completely obscured her tail while she was pushed around in her wheelchair.

Beyond the practical effects, Johns' performance sold the character’s enchanting nature. Critics and audiences raved over her striking look—featuring long platinum hair and a melodic, purring, breathy voice. She balanced the absurdity of the plot by acting like an endearing, slightly mischievous “fish out of water” who demanded a strict diet of raw fish and loved to lounge in water-filled bathtubs.

The film was a major box-office hit in the UK, making Glynis Johns an iconic face in fantasy cinema and prompting her to reprise the mermaid role years later in the 1954 sequel, Mad About Men.