Winifred Banks

Winifred Banks is a character from the 1964 film, Mary Poppins. She was portrayed in the film by Glynis Johns. In the film, she is the wife of George Banks and the mother of Jane and  Michael.

Background
Winifred is shown to be a member of the suffragette movement. By the time of the film, she has become so consumed by her meetings that she neglects her children. However, she is shown to be slightly more caring and attentive than her husband. She is shown to be devoted to Mr. Banks, but like the children he unintentionally neglects her. She has blonde hair, and is usually seen wearing traditional attire for women in the Edwardian era of the 1910s.

It is revealed that, prior to the events of the film, she had been in charge of hiring nannies to care for Jane and Michael. However, they had been, in the words of Mr. Banks, "unqualified disasters". Thus, she is shown to be pleased when George Banks decides to select the next nanny himself. Also, she is responsible for organizing the house staff to respond to the cannon firing of Admiral Boom at 6 PM and 8 AM. She and the house staff go around secure the breakable objects, which rattle due to the cannon firing. Her theme throughout the film is "Sister Suffragette", which serves as her introductory song; the melody also serves as her leit motif.

Role in the film
Winifred first appears near the beginning of the film. After singing about the suffragette movement which is is apart of, Katie Nanna, the most recent nanny, informs her that Jane and Michael have run away. Mrs. Banks is annoyed, as it is the 4th time that week that the children had gone missing. Katie Nanna then reveals that she has chosen to quit, due to the children's horrible behavior. This shocks Winifred, and she makes an impassioned, but failed, attempt at convincing Katie Nanna to stay.

When George comes in, it takes Winifred several tries to get him to realize that the children are missing. Mr. Banks chooses to deal with the matter immediately, by calling the police. Just as he gets on the phone, Constable Jones comes by the house with Jane and Michael in tow. He reveals that they had not run away intentionally, but had gotten separated while dealing with their kite, which had gotten out of control and had broke. Winifred goes to embrace them, but she is scolded by Mr. Banks for getting emotional. After the children are sent upstairs, Winifred and George discuss the matter of hiring a new nanny. Noting that the last 6 nannies, hired by Winifred, had all been failures, George decides to hire the new nanny himself. As he dictates, Winifred writes up an ad for a strict nanny. When Jane and Michael come with their own ad for a kind nanny, Winifred is the one who encourages George to listen. Winifred is charmed, but George dismisses it as ridiculous.

The next time Winifred is seen, is after George has "hired" Mary Poppins. She briefly comments on the new nanny to her husband, though he is still confused from the matter. The day after, Winifred is seen at breakfast, talking with her husband about how cheerful the household has been since Mary Poppins was hired. Her observations are confirmed, as both children come in, both very happy, and bring her a small bouquet of flowers. That night, Winifred observes her husband attempting to fire Mary Poppins at George's request, due to the outlandish stories from Jane and Michael. However, instead of being fired, Mary Poppins is able to trick him into taking Jane and Michael to the bank where he works.

The next afternoon, Winifred is shown in a panic, as she is late for her meeting. When the door rings, she is shocked to see the children, whom she had expected to be with their father. Bert who had taken them home, explains that they had been frightened at the bank, and needed someone to look after them. Winifred immediately thinks of Mary Poppins, but is crestfallen when she realizes that it is Mary Poppins's day off. Since neither Mrs. Brill or Ellen, the two house servants, can look after them either, Winifred hires Bert on the spot before quickly rushing off to her meeting, leaving Bert a bit confused. Winifred returns home afterwards to find a swarm of chimney sweeps partying in the house. Several of the sweeps notice her suffragette sash, and begin marching with her.

Winifred is next seen in the morning, worried to death about George. It is revealed that Mr. Banks had not returned home after being fired from his job at the bank, so they have called Constable Jones to report him missing. She scolds Ellen, when Ellen suggests that Mr. Banks may have gone to a bridge "popular with jumpers." Along with the rest of the household, Winifred is revealed when George comes and reveals himself to have been in the cellar. Having had a change of heart after his firing, he had been working on mending Jane and Michael's broken kite. Winifred chooses to contribute as well, utilizing one of her suffragette sashes as a kite tail. She is later seen listening, as Mr. Dawes, Jr, one of George's old bosses talks to George. The bank owner, Mr. Dawes Sr, had died the night before, but thanks to a joke told by George, he had died happier than ever in his life. Out of gratitude, Mr. Dawes Jr, offers George a partnership in the bank, to which Winifred reacts by happily kissing George. She is last seen looking on happily as her children fly their kite.