Born:
February 22, 1933
in
Blackgang, Isle of Wight
Best Known For:
Her roles in a string of hit TV programmes and plenty of stints on the stage.
Early-life:
Born Sheila Cameron Hancock on February 22, 1933, in Blackgang, Isle of Wight, but was brought up in London where her parents worked in pubs. During the Second World War, she was evacuated to Berkshire. At only eight years old, she found the experience traumatic and was bullied by the local children. Once back with her parents, Sheila won a grammar school scholarship, where she began acting. She went on to study drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada).
Career:
For nine years after leaving Rada, Hancock worked in theatre. Her breakthrough came in 1960s sitcom The Rag Trade. Other early productions include Carry On Cleo, But Seriously, It's Sheila Hancock, and How I Won the War. Roles in Brighton Belles, The Buccanneers, Love and Death on Long Island, Bedtime and EastEnders propelled her further into the spotlight. She took a break from acting when her husband John Thaw fell ill, but returned with Fortysomething in 2003. Hancock continues to work on stage and screen, and in 2010 was a judge alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber on talent search Over the Rainbow. She's also written two acclaimed memoirs. She also regularly works in radio.
Quote:
"I can't be bothered to go through the process of getting to know somebody and to pretend you are something else or whatever you do for them. I like my privacy now, I like my freedom.'
Trivia:
Hancock's first husband Alec Ross died of oesophageal cancer in 1971. Two years later, she married actor John Thaw, who was killed by the same disease in 2002. Sheila and John each had a daughter from their previous marriages, and one between them - all three girls are actresses.