Barbara Everest (1890–1968) was a prolific British character actress, both on stage, where she made her debut in 1912, and in film. Her film career spanned the United Kingdom and Hollywood, where she became a familiar face playing maternal figures, governesses, or authoritative matrons. Among her most celebrated and acclaimed performances are her role as the governess Elizabeth in the psychological thriller *Gaslight* (1944), Mary Norton in the romantic classic *Brief Encounter* (1945), and the stern Mrs. Reed in *Jane Eyre* (1943). She also appeared in films such as *The Valley of Decision* (1945) and *Madeleine* (1950). Although she did not win major awards, Everest is recognized for her solid and consistent contribution to numerous productions of cinema's golden age, thanks to a screen presence that lent depth and credibility to her characters. Her final screen appearance was posthumous, in the film *The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie* (1969).