Sheila Mary Mitchell (born 1925) is a British actress and author.
Sheila Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sheila Mary Mitchell 1925 (age 98–99) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Early years edit
Born in 1925, Sheila Mitchell was a teenager during the Second World War and spent the last two years of that time in the WRNS (Women's Royal Navy Service) working at Bletchley Park. She then trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Lucky enough to work for BBC Radio while she was still a student, broadcasting remained a substantial part of her work, moving into recording Audio Books.[1]
Career edit
She found employment both in theatre – The Royal Shakespeare Company, Prospect at the Old Vic, West End productions working with stars like Donald Sinden, John Mills and Derek Jacobi as well as in TV – among other programmes, Jeeves and Wooster, All Creatures Great and Small and countless sitcoms. Writing has been a late addition and she was very nearly 95 before appearing in print for the first time with the publication of H.R.F. Keating: A Life of Crime.[2]
Personal life edit
On leaving drama school she spent a few years working in theatre and it was while she was a member of the Swindon repertory company that she met H.R.F. (Harry) Keating who was employed by the local newspaper not only as a reporter and sub-editor but also as their theatre reviewer. They married in 1953 and after the birth of their first child in 1955 her career was put on hold and not resumed until the 1970s by which time they had four children.
Awards edit
At the Mystery Readers International, she won Macavity awards[3] in 2020/21 in the Best Mystery Critical/Biography category for H.R.F. Keating: A Life of Crime published by Level Best Books of America.[4]
Filmography edit
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Witless | Old Lady | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Strange But True? | Reconstruction Cast | 1 episode |
| 1995 | A Mind to Murder | Mrs. Fenton | TV movie |
| 1992 | Jeeves and Wooster | Charlotte | 1 episode |
| 1989 | Capital City | Alex's Companion | 1 episode |
| 1989 | All Creatures Great and Small | Mrs. Blackwood | 1 episode |
| 1989 | The Bretts | Gladys | 1 episode |
| 1986 | King & Castles | Secretary | 1 episode |
| 1986 | No Place Like Home | Miss Stanforth | 1 episode |
| 1984 | Shine on Harvey Home | Mother | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Jemima Shore Investigates | Guest at Wine-Testing | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Whodunnit? | SJ Banks | TV movie |
| 1982 | Grange Hill | Mrs. Harvey | 1 episode |
| 1981 | Present Laughter | Miss Erikson | TV movie |
| 1980 | The Waterfall | Hospital sister | 3 episode |
| 1980 | The Gentle Touch | Usher | 1 episode |
| 1979 | The Strange Affair of Adelaide Harris | Mrs. Bostock | 1 episode |
| 1978 | Lillie | Charlotte Knollys | 3 episode |
| 1964 | Z Cars | Mrs. Connolly | 1 episode |
| 1963 | Dr. Finlay's Casebook | Telephone Operator | 1 episode |
References edit
- ^ The Armchair Detective. Armchair Detective, Incorporated. 1997.
- ^ Hamilton, Alex (2012). Writing Talk. Troubador Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-78088-339-7.
- ^ "Macavity Awards – Mystery Readers International". Retrieved 2022-08-23.
- ^ Mitchell, Sheila (2020-04-28). HRF Keating: A Life of Crime. Level Best Books. ISBN 978-1-947915-52-7.