Known For
Acting
Known Credits
48
Gender
Female
Birthday
April 23, 1942 (84 years old)
Place of Birth
Lincoln, England, United Kingdom
Sheila Gish (23 April 1942 – 9 March 2005) was a British stage and television actress. She was born Sheila Anne Gash in Lincoln, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and made her stage debut with a repertory company. Her first starring role in the West End was as Bella in Robert and Elizabeth. She continued to be best known for her stage work, but she also appeared in many television dramas, from The First Churchills (in which she played Mary of Modena) to the successful adaptation of Love in a Cold Climate (2001) in which she played the eccentric and outrageous Lady Montdore. She had two daughters: the actresses Kay Curram and Lou Gish (1967–2006) by her first husband, the actor Roland Curram. While filming That Uncertain Feeling for BBC2 in 1985, she met actor Denis Lawson, who was to become her second husband. She rarely appeared on film, her most notable performances being as Anna in the Merchant-Ivory film Quartet (1981) and as Mrs Norris in Jane Austen's Mansfield Park (1999). She is also known for her appearance in the 1986 film Highlander as Rachel Ellenstein. She took the part of the alcoholic Joanne in Stephen Sondheim's musical Company, directed by Sam Mendes at the Donmar Warehouse and in the West End, in 1995. The following year, she won the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical. In 1999 she played Miss Venable in Tennessee Williams's Suddenly Last Summer, directed by Sean Mathias with Rachel Weisz at the Comedy Theatre, London. One of her last stage roles was as Arkadina in the Chichester Festival Theatre's production of The Seagull in 2003. By this time she had been diagnosed with cancer and had lost an eye as a result of surgery. She died in Camden, London. Her final performance was for BBC Radio. She is Ewan McGregor's mother's sister-in-law. Her daughter, Lou, also died of cancer less than a year after her mother.
| 2001 | Love in a Cold Climateas Lady Montdore | |
| 1999 | Mansfield Parkas Mrs. Norris | |
| 1999 | The Bass Playeras | |
| 1999 | The Blonde Bombshellas Mrs Fluck | |
| 1997 | Jonathan Creekas Serena Shale | |
| 1996 | Companyas Joanne | |
| 1996 | Seasickas Martina Schaffer | |
| 1995 | The Ghostbusters of East Finchleyas Mrs Podget | |
| 1995 | The Thin Blue Lineas Maeve the Sex Therapist | |
| 1995 | The Perfect Matchas Helen | |
| 1994 | Pie in the Skyas Julia Sutton | |
| 1993 | Resnick: Rough Treatmentas Maria Roy | |
| 1993 | Brighton Bellesas Bridget | |
| 1992 | Jewelsas Victoria Thompson | |
| 1991 | Stanley and the Womenas Nowell Hutchinson | |
| 1991 | Performanceas Joanne | |
| 1991 | The House of Eliottas Yolande Hermane | |
| 1987 | Inspector Morseas Gwladys Probert | |
| 1986 | Worlds Beyondas Mrs Hitchcock | |
| 1986 | Highlanderas Rachel Ellenstein | |
| 1984 | Sharing Timeas Ingrid | |
| 1981 | Quartetas Anna | |
| 1981 | Goodbye Darlingas Janet Lyall | |
| 1979 | Tales of the Unexpectedas Frances | |
| 1979 | Tales of the Unexpectedas Laura Parker | |
| 1979 | Tales of the Unexpectedas Mary Hitchman | |
| 1977 | Anna Kareninaas | |
| 1976 | The Lifeswappersas Dinah/Miss Trevor | |
| 1976 | Plays for Britainas Dinah / Miss Trevor | |
| 1975 | The Sweeneyas June | |
| 1974 | Affairs of the Heartas Violet Grey | |
| 1974 | Let's Marry Lizas Sarah Gage | |
| 1974 | Seven Faces of Womanas Sarah Gage | |
| 1973 | Helen: A Woman of Todayas | |
| 1973 | Hitler: The Last Ten Daysas Frau Christian | |
| 1972 | Crown Courtas Erika Brabazon | |
| 1972 | The Adventureras Laura | |
| 1972 | A Day in the Death of Joe Eggas Pam | |
| 1972 | New Scotland Yardas Kay Stevens | |
| 1972 | Late Night Theatreas Wife | |
| 1971 | Funnyas Phyl | |
| 1971 | The Rivals of Sherlock Holmesas Mrs. Chalmers | |
| 1970 | Play for Todayas Jane Elkinson | |
| 1970 | Every Home Should Have Oneas Mother in Commercial | |
| 1970 | The Reckoningas Mrs Garner | |
| 1967 | ITV Playhouseas Isobel Davidson | |
| 1967 | ITV Playhouseas Phyl | |
| 1965 | Darlingas Cameo (uncredited) |