Sheila White (actress)

Sheila White
Born Sheila Susan White
(1948-10-18)18 October 1948
London, England
Died 7 September 2018(2018-09-07) (aged 69)
Kingston, England
Occupation Actress
Years active 1966–2000
Spouse(s)
Richard M. Mills (m. 1983)

Sheila Susan White (18 October 1948 – 7 September 2018) was an English film, television and stage actress.

Early life and career

White was born in London. She began her career at the age of twelve in the pantomime Cinderella at the Golders Green Hippodrome starring Arthur Askey as a member of Terry's Juveniles. This led to an audition for the London production of The Sound of Music at the Palace Theatre, where she played the parts of Brigitta and Louisa for three years. She then became a student at the Corona Stage School in Hammersmith, West London.

At sixteen, she still played children's roles, as she appeared young for her age; the start of her television career was in Z-Cars with Malcolm McDowell. A theatre tour of Counter Crime followed and the musical tour of The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd starring Norman Wisdom and Willoughby Goddard, written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, playing one of the urchins with Elaine Paige and choreography by Gillian Lynne. White's break came playing the part of Eileen in the musical On The Level at the Saville Theatre. She was taken out of the chorus and the song "Bleep – Bleep", was written especially for her as a solo feature.[1] This led to White being cast as Bet, Nancy's best friend in Lionel Bart's film musical Oliver! (1968). She accompanied Shani Wallis as Nancy and Mark Lester as Oliver in the songs "It's a Fine Life" and "I'd Do Anything".[1]

Following her success in Oliver!, she achieved considerable fame in France as a singer, releasing several records and making many highly successful television appearances. She also starred in the French language film Papa Les Petits Bateaux (Papa the Little Boats, 1971)[1] directed by Nelly Kaplan.

Film and television

In 1969 and 1970, White starred opposite Rodney Bewes in the first two series of the sitcom Dear Mother...Love Albert. She received glowing reviews for her memorable performance as Messalina, the third wife of the Emperor Claudius (Derek Jacobi) in the BBC classic serial I, Claudius (1976), and in EastEnders she played Carol Hanley, the biological mother of Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean).

Her many other television credits include the TV musical Pickwick for the BBC in 1969, Keren Daniel in Poldark for BBC TV, Annie Miller in The Brotherhood – Pre-Raphaelites – Aka Love School for the BBC directed by Piers Haggard. Dixie, the female lead in the comedy series Don't Rock the Boat for Thames Television directed by Mark Stuart, Moyra Sheffield in Framed for ITV, written by Lynda La Plante, Sharon Nightingale in the series 1 episode Monday Night Fever of Minder, Mildred in ITV Saturday Night Theatre – The Funeral of Queen Victoria, directed by Tania Leven, Whizzkid's Guide a children's comedy series for Anglia Television, and Faith in the series Gone To Seed. Musical appearances on television included the variety series The Songwriters, several Royal Variety shows, and 'The Good Old Days with Leonard Sachs.

White made her final TV appearance in 2000 in an episode of the comedy series A Many Splintered Thing with Alan Davies.

Her 1970's film appearances included the role of Rosie Noggett, the married sister of Timothy Lea (Robin Askwith), in all four Confessions films, Alfie Darling with Joan Collins, Silver Dream Racer with David Essex, and the Walt Disney comedy Unidentified Flying Oddball.

Theatre

White's extensive theatre credits as a leading lady included Mary Pickford in The Biograph Girl for Harold Fielding, directed by Victor Spinetti; Eileen Wells in On The Level; Young Belle in Little Me; Ruby in the London production of Dames at Sea; Samantha in Queen Daniella with Danny La Rue and Sonia Walsk; and the British production of They're Playing Our Song.

Personal life

White went into semi-retirement after her marriage to (then) theatre producer Richard M. Mills in 1983. The couple had two sons, Christopher and Matthew. Following a long illness, Sheila White died of heart failure on 7 September 2018 at age 69.[1]

Filmography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hayward, Anthony (4 October 2018). "Sheila White obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
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