Sheila Reid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sheila Reid
Born	(1937-12-21) 21 December 1937 (age 87) Glasgow, Scotland
Years active	1960–present
Notable work	Benidorm (2007–2016)
Spouse(s)	Julian Curry ​ ​ (m. 1967, d. 1999)​ Terry Bullen ​ ​ (m. 2008)​

Sheila Reid is a Scottish actress born on December 21, 1937. She has had a very long and successful career in acting. She was one of the first members of the Royal National Theatre in London when it started in 1963.

Sheila is well-known for playing Bianca in the 1965 film Othello. In this movie, she acted alongside the famous actor Laurence Olivier. Later in her career, many people recognized her as Madge Harvey from the popular TV show Benidorm. She was on the show from 2007 to 2016.

Sheila's Early Life and School

Sheila Reid was born in Glasgow, Scotland. She grew up in a place called Bridge of Weir. Her father was in the army, so her family moved to India for a while.

She went to a boarding school for girls called Moreton Hall School. This school is near a town called Oswestry in Shropshire, England. In 2014, Sheila went back to her old school for a special celebration. She read some poems by T. S. Eliot there.

Sheila's Acting Career

Sheila Reid has worked a lot in theatre, movies, and television. She has acted with many famous people. These include Laurence Olivier, Ingmar Bergman, and Elliott Gould.

Movies and TV Shows

Sheila has appeared in many different TV shows and films over the years.

Acting in the 1960s

In the 1960s, Sheila was in several TV shows. These included Armchair Theatre, Tales of Mystery, and Z-Cars. She also appeared in Love Story and Theatre 625.

She played Antoinette Plucheux in a BBC TV movie. It was based on a French play called A Flea in Her Ear.

Acting in the 1970s

In 1970, Sheila played Maria in an episode of ITV Sunday Night Theatre. The episode was called 'Twelfth Night'.

In 1971, she starred in the film The Touch, which was directed by Ingmar Bergman. She also appeared in the BBC One drama Owen, M.D. as Mrs. Shackles. She played this character in two episodes. Later, in 1973, she returned to Owen, M.D. as a different character, Mabel Simpson, for three more episodes.

Sheila was in Thirty-Minute Theatre in 1972. In 1973, she appeared in the ITV drama Justice. She also acted in Play for Today and Play of the Month in 1975.

In 1976, she played May Parker in the Australian miniseries The Emigrants. She was in three episodes of this show.

In 1978, Sheila appeared in the BBC One comedy-drama All Creatures Great and Small. She played Mrs. Donovan. She returned to this role again in 1990. She also appeared in the ITV drama Lillie as Queen Victoria. Later that year, she was in the police drama The Sweeney.

Acting in the 1980s

In 1980, Sheila starred as Lady Rawlinson in the movie Sir Henry at Rawlinson End. In 1981, she was in the ITV comedy-drama Get Lost! as Miss Langley. She played this role in four episodes.

In 1982, she appeared in the BBC One drama Fame Is the Spur as Mrs. Ryerson. She was in four episodes of this series.

In 1983, she played Patsy Busbridge in the ITV comedy-drama Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. In 1985, she appeared in the famous science fiction show Doctor Who. She played a character named Etta in the episode "Vengeance on Varos".

Acting in the 1990s

In 1993, Sheila starred as Jessie Fraser in an episode of the ITV drama Taggart.

In 1995, she appeared as Tilda MacLean in the ITV drama Doctor Finlay. She was also in the BBC One drama Oliver's Travels. In 1998, she played Edith Woodford in the ITV family drama Where the Heart Is.

She starred as Mrs. Baggott in the 1998 film Still Crazy. In 1999, she appeared in the ITV police show The Bill as Claire. She played this role in two episodes. Years later, in 2006, she returned to The Bill as a different character, Audrey Thorp.

Acting from 2000 to Today

In 2001, Sheila appeared in the BBC One medical show Doctors. She played Louise Kingston. She returned to Doctors four more times, playing a different character each time. Her last appearance was in 2020 as 'Speedy Sue'.

In 2002, she was in the BBC One comedy-drama Monarch of the Glen. In 2003, she appeared in the ITV crime drama Midsomer Murders.

In 2005, she was in the BBC One medical drama Casualty. She played Cynthia Hollis. She returned to Casualty three more times, playing different characters. Her last appearance was in 2016.

In late 2006, Sheila was chosen to play Madge Harvey in the ITV sitcom Benidorm. Her character first appeared in February 2007. Madge and her family, the Garveys, became very popular. In 2015, it was announced that Madge and the Garveys were leaving the show. However, Sheila returned to play Madge for a few more episodes in 2015 and 2016.

In 2009, she appeared in the BBC One mystery series Psychoville. From 2012 to 2014, she was in the Sky Arts comedy Psychobitches, playing various historical figures like Mother Teresa and Shirley Temple.

In 2012, she appeared in the BBC One period drama Call the Midwife for a Christmas special. In 2013, she returned to Doctor Who as Clara Oswald's Grandmother in "The Time of the Doctor". She played this role again in 2014 in the episode "Dark Water".

More recently, Sheila has appeared in shows like Big Boys (2022–2024), Dreamland (2023), and Inside No. 9 (2023). She also appeared in the Christmas Special of Beyond Paradise in 2023.

Theatre Roles

Sheila has also had a very successful career on stage.

Theatre in the 1960s

In 1963, she starred as Fio Bates in Half a Sixpence at the Cambridge Theatre in London.

Theatre in the 1990s

In 1993, she played Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd at the Royal National Theatre. In 1996, she was Celestine in Martin Guerre: The Musical. In 1998, she played Jack's Mother in Into the Woods.

Theatre from 2010 to Today

In 2015, she played Mrs. Fiedke in a play called The Driver's Seat. In 2017, she starred as Gloria in a new play called Silver Lining at the Rose Theatre, Kingston.

Sheila's Personal Life

Sheila Reid was married to actor Julian Curry. Later, in 2008, she married her partner of 32 years, Terry Bullen. They had a private ceremony in London with close friends.

She also supports the charity Plan International.

Movies Sheila Reid Has Been In

TV Shows Sheila Reid Has Been In

Video Game Roles

• Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers (2020) as Master Matoya. She took over this role after the previous actress passed away.

Theatre Roles at the National Theatre

• The Master Builder (1964)
• Othello (1964/1965)
• The Crucible (1965) directed by Laurence Olivier
• Love for Love (1965)
• Three Sisters (1967/1968) directed by Olivier
• Home and Beauty (1968/1969)
• Love's Labour's Lost (1968)
• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1993)

Other Theatre Roles

• Martin Guerre: Prince Edward Theatre, London (1996)
• The Importance of Being Earnest: Theatre Royal Haymarket, London (1999)
• Pericles, Prince of Tyre: Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London (2015)
• Troilus and Cressida: Royal Shakespeare Company (2018)