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Sheila Gish

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
48

Gender
Female

Birthday
April 23, 1942 (84 years old)

Place of Birth
Lincoln, England, United Kingdom

Sheila Gish

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

2001Love in a Cold Climateas Lady Montdore
1999Mansfield Parkas Mrs. Norris
1999The Bass Playeras
1999The Blonde Bombshellas Mrs Fluck
1997Jonathan Creekas Serena Shale
1996Companyas Joanne
1996Seasickas Martina Schaffer
1995The Ghostbusters of East Finchleyas Mrs Podget
1995The Thin Blue Lineas Maeve the Sex Therapist
1995The Perfect Matchas Helen
1994Pie in the Skyas Julia Sutton
1993Resnick: Rough Treatmentas Maria Roy
1993Brighton Bellesas Bridget
1992Jewelsas Victoria Thompson
1991Stanley and the Womenas Nowell Hutchinson
1991Performanceas Joanne
1991The House of Eliottas Yolande Hermane
1987Inspector Morseas Gwladys Probert
1986Worlds Beyondas Mrs Hitchcock
1986Highlanderas Rachel Ellenstein
1984Sharing Timeas Ingrid
1981Quartetas Anna
1981Goodbye Darlingas Janet Lyall
1979Tales of the Unexpectedas Frances
1979Tales of the Unexpectedas Laura Parker
1979Tales of the Unexpectedas Mary Hitchman
1977Anna Kareninaas
1976The Lifeswappersas Dinah/Miss Trevor
1976Plays for Britainas Dinah / Miss Trevor
1975The Sweeneyas June
1974Affairs of the Heartas Violet Grey
1974Let's Marry Lizas Sarah Gage
1974Seven Faces of Womanas Sarah Gage
1973Helen: A Woman of Todayas
1973Hitler: The Last Ten Daysas Frau Christian
1972Crown Courtas Erika Brabazon
1972The Adventureras Laura
1972A Day in the Death of Joe Eggas Pam
1972New Scotland Yardas Kay Stevens
1972Late Night Theatreas Wife
1971Funnyas Phyl
1971The Rivals of Sherlock Holmesas Mrs. Chalmers
1970Play for Todayas Jane Elkinson
1970Every Home Should Have Oneas Mother in Commercial
1970The Reckoningas Mrs Garner
1967ITV Playhouseas Isobel Davidson
1967ITV Playhouseas Phyl
1965Darlingas Cameo (uncredited)

Production