Shirley Ellis is a South African producer, director, actress, teacher, trainer, mentor, coach and workshop facilitator best known in television for her starring role as Malherbe in the SABC2 thriller series Arsenaal, in 2002.

She currently runs interactive workshops to equip people with key life skills to understand and cope with stress.

Ellis graduated with a BA Degree and Performer's Diploma in Speech and Drama: bilingual, from the University of Cape Town in 1984.

Originally from Bellville, Western Cape she now resides in Simon's Town.