Sheila Reid (born 21 December 1937) is a Scottish actress. An original member of the

Royal National Theatre The National Theatre (NT), officially the Royal National Theatre and sometimes referred to in international contexts as the National Theatre of Great Britain, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England, ...

in 1963, she played Bianca in the National's 1965 film version of ''

Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...

'', with

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier ( ; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director. He and his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud made up a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage of the m ...

in the title role. Her other film appearances include ''

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

'' (1985), ''

The Winter Guest ''The Winter Guest'' is a 1997 drama film directed by Alan Rickman (in his feature directorial debut) and starring Phyllida Law and Emma Thompson. Plot Set in Scotland on one wintry day, the film focuses on eight people; a mother and daughter ...

'' (1997) and ''

Containment Containment was a Geopolitics, geopolitical strategic foreign policy pursued by the United States during the Cold War to prevent the spread of communism after the end of World War II. The name was loosely related to the term ''Cordon sanitaire ...

'' (2015). In her later career, she is known for playing Madge Harvey in the ITV sitcom ''

Benidorm Benidorm ( , , ) is a municipality in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Known as the “New York City, New York of the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean”, Benidorm has been a tourist destinatio ...

'' (2007–2016).

Education

Born in Glasgow, Reid grew up in

Bridge of Weir Bridge of Weir is a village within the Renfrewshire council areas of Scotland, council area and wider counties of Scotland, historic county of Renfrewshire (historic), Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Lying within the Gryf ...

before her father's army career took the family to India. She was then educated at Moreton Hall School, a boarding

independent school A private school or independent school is a school not administered or funded by the government, unlike a State school, public school. Private schools are schools that are not dependent upon national or local government to finance their fina ...

for girls, near the

market town A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rura ...

Oswestry Oswestry ( ; ) is a market town, civil parish and historic railway town in Shropshire, England, close to the England–Wales border, Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5 road (Great Britain), A5, A483 road, A483 and A495 road, A495 ro ...

Shropshire Shropshire (; abbreviated SalopAlso used officially as the name of the county from 1974–1980. The demonym for inhabitants of the county "Salopian" derives from this name.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West M ...

. Reid returned to the school to read ‘The Four Quartets’ by

T. S. Eliot Thomas Stearns Eliot (26 September 18884 January 1965) was a poet, essayist and playwright.Bush, Ronald. "T. S. Eliot's Life and Career", in John A Garraty and Mark C. Carnes (eds), ''American National Biography''. New York: Oxford University ...

, at the Old Moretonian Grand Centenary Reunion celebration in 2014.

Career

Reid has had a long and distinguished career in theatre, film and television. She worked with

, at The Royal National Theatre in

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

, and with

Ingmar Bergman Ernst Ingmar Bergman (14 July 1918 – 30 July 2007) was a Swedish film and theatre director and screenwriter. Widely considered one of the greatest and most influential film directors of all time, his films have been described as "profoun ...

and

Elliott Gould Elliott Gould (; né Goldstein; born August 29, 1938) is an American actor. Gould's breakthrough role was in the film ''Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' (1969), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The ...

Film and television

1960s

During the 1960s, Reid appeared in '' Armchair Theatre'', '' Tales of Mystery'', ''

Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police and CID detectives in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by ...

'', '' Love Story'', '' Knock on Any Door'', and '' Theatre 625''. She took on the role of Antoinette Plucheux in the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

's television film adaptation of the 1907 French stage play '' A Flea in Her Ear''.

1970s

in 1970, she appeared as Maria in the episode 'Twelfth Night' of ITV drama anthology series ''

ITV Sunday Night Theatre ''ITV Sunday Night Theatre'', originally titled ''ITV Saturday Night Theatre'' and often shortened to simply ''Sunday Night Theatre'' or ''Saturday Night Theatre'', is a British television anthology series screened on ITV, whose episodes were co ...

''. On 14 July 1971, she starred in the

directed film '' The Touch''. On 29 September 1971, she appeared in

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's oldest and flagship channel, and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television b ...

's drama series '' Owen, M.D.'' as Mrs. Shackles in the episode "The Whole Hog, Part 1". She returned to the role as Mrs. Shackles once more in the episode "The Whole Hog, Part 2" which aired on 30 September 1971. In 1973, Reid returned to the series for three more episodes, this time as a different character, Mabel Simpson, in the episodes "Water Under the Bridge" (22 April 1973), "The Love Game" (3 June 1973) and "Father of the Man" (6 May 1973). In 1972, she appeared in

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...

's drama anthology series ''

Thirty-Minute Theatre ''Thirty-Minute Theatre'' was a British anthology drama series of short plays shown on BBC Television between 1965 and 1973, which was used in part at least as a training ground for new writers, on account of its short running length, and which ...

'' as Mrs. Berry in the episode "And for My Next Trick". On 2 March 1973, she appeared in ITV drama series ''

Justice In its broadest sense, justice is the idea that individuals should be treated fairly. According to the ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'', the most plausible candidate for a core definition comes from the ''Institutes (Justinian), Inst ...

'' as Madge in the episode "The Whole Truth?". On 22 May 1975, she appeared in BBC One's drama anthology series ''

Play for Today ''Play for Today'' is a British television anthology drama series, produced by the BBC and transmitted on BBC1 from 1970 to 1984. During the run, more than three hundred programmes, featuring original television plays, and adaptations of stage ...

'' as Vanessa Bagley in the episode "Brassneck". On 29 December 1975, she appeared in BBC One's drama series ''

Play of the Month ''Play of the Month'' is a BBC television anthology series, which ran from 1965 to 1983 featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays (or adaptations) which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different wor ...

'' as Lottie Grady in the episode "When We Are Married". In 1976, she appeared in Australian miniseries '' The Emigrants'' as May Parker in the episode "Chances for the Children". She returned to the role of May Parker twice more in the episode "Endeavour" which aired on 16 November 1976 and "13,000 Miles Away" which aired on 23 November 1976. In 1978, she appeared in BBC One's comedy drama series '' All Creatures Great and Small'' as Mrs. Donovan in the episode "Practice Makes Perfect". She returned to the role of Mrs. Donovan once more in the episode 'Spring Fever' (1990). On 22 October 1978, she appeared in the ITV drama series '' Lillie'' as Queen Victoria in the episode "Bertie". On 14 December 1978, she appeared in the ITV police drama '' The Sweeney'' as Doreen Haskins in the episode "Victims".

1980s

In 1980, she starred as Lady Rawlinson in '' Sir Henry at Rawlinson End''. In 1981, she appeared in the ITV comedy drama series '' Get Lost!'' as Miss Langley in the episode "Worried About Jim". She returned to the role as Miss Langley in three more episodes, "The Vicar Did It" (19 June 1981), "Kiss Me Quick" (26 June 1981) and "Not a Proper Ending" (3 July 1981). In 1982, she appeared in BBC One's drama series '' Fame Is the Spur'' as Mrs. Ryerson. She returned to the role of Mrs. Ryerson in three more episodes in 1982. In 1983, she appeared in ITV comedy drama series ''

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet ''Auf Wiedersehen, Pet'' () is a British comedy-drama television programme about seven British construction workers who leave the United Kingdom to search for employment overseas. In the first series, the men live and work on a building site ...

'' as Patsy Busbridge in the episode 'Home Thoughts from Abroad'. In 1984, she appeared in ITV drama series '' Miracles Take Longer'' as Mrs. Hook. In 1985, she appeared as Etta in the two part

Sixth Doctor The Sixth Doctor is an incarnation of The Doctor (Doctor Who), the Doctor, the protagonist of the British Science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Colin Baker. Although his televisual t ...

story " Vengeance on Varos" in BBC One's science fiction drama ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

''.

1990s

On 20 April 1993, she starred as Jessie Fraser in the episode 'Gingerbread' in ITV's drama series ''

Taggart ''Taggart'' is a Scottish detective fiction television programme created by Glenn Chandler, who wrote many of the episodes, and made by STV Studios for the ITV network. It originally ran as the miniseries ''Killer'' from 6 until 20 Septe ...

''. On 10 March 1995, she appeared as Tilda MacLean in the episode 'No Time for Heroes' in the ITV drama series '' Doctor Finlay''. On 9 July 1995, she appeared in BBC One's five part drama series '' Oliver's Travels'' as Eileen in the episode "Do We Look Like That?". On 21 June 1998, she appeared as Edith Woodford in the ITV family drama '' Where the Heart Is''. On 30 October 1998, she starred as Mrs. Baggott in the film '' Still Crazy''. On 7 December 1999, she appeared in ITV police procedural drama ''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...

'', as Claire in the episode "Consumers". She returned to the role of Claire once more in the episode "Lock In" (9 December 1999). She returned to the series many years later, this time as a different character, Audrey Thorp, in one more episode "431" (3 August 2006).

2000–present

On 2 October 2001, she appeared in BBC One's medical soap opera ''

Doctors Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor or The Doctors may refer to: Titles and occupations * Physician, a medical practitioner * Doctor (title), an academic title for the holder of a doctoral-level degree ** Doctorate ** List of doctoral degrees awarded b ...

'' as Louise Kingston in the episode "Retiring the Past". She returned to the series on four more occasions, each time playing a different character. She played Ivy Brownlow in the episode "You People" (20 January 2009), Eena McFee in the episode "Seize the Day" (31 May 2011) and Sid Dalmond in the episode "Sid's Blues" (22 January 2014). On 17 April 2020, Reid appeared as 'Speedy Sue', a con artist. On 15 September 2002, she appeared in BBC One's comedy drama series '' Monarch of the Glen'' as Reverend Alice in the episode 'Episode #4.3'. On 17 January 2003, she appeared as Mrs. Metcalfe in the episode 'Painted in Blood' in ITV crime drama series ''

Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British Mystery fiction, mystery television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series created by Caroline Graham (writer), Caroline Graham. ...

''. On 17 September 2005, she appeared in BBC One's medical drama series ''

Casualty Casualty may refer to: *Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster **Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare * The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...

'' as Cynthia Hollis in the episode "Deep Water". She returned to the series on three more occasions, each time playing a different character. She played Loretta Parks in the episode "Into the Fog" (2 October 2010), Gwen Morgan in the episode 'Return to Sender' (25 October 2014) and Sheila Bobbins in the episode 'Schoolboy Crush' (24 September 2016). On 18 January 2006, she appeared in BBC One's drama anthology series '' The Afternoon Play'' as Edith in the episode "Your Mother Should Know". On 28 January 2006, she appeared in BBC One's paranormal mystery drama ''

Sea of Souls ''Sea of Souls'' is a BBC paranormal drama series, recounting the fictional activities of a group of investigators into psychic and other paranormal events. Produced in-house by BBC Scotland and for the final season by Carnival Films, initially ...

'' as Aggie the Chambermaid in the episode "The Newsroom". In late 2006, Reid was cast as loud-mouth Madge Harvey in the ITV sitcom ''

''. Her character first appeared on 1 February 2007 in the first episode alongside her new on-screen family, The Garveys. It was announced on 8 January 2015 that Madge and The Garveys were leaving the show after nearly 8 years. They departed on the second episode of Series 7 (9 January 2015). On 17 April 2015, ITV confirmed Reid's return to the series and that she would appear in the third episode of Series 8. On 25 January 2016, Reid reprised her role as Madge for one episode. On 13 November 2009, she appeared in BBC One's dark mystery series '' Psychoville'' as Old Crone in the seventh episode. On 21 June 2012, she appeared in

Sky Arts Sky Arts (originally launched as Artsworld) is a British free-to-air television channel offering 24 hours a day of programmes dedicated to highbrow arts, including theatrical performances, films, documentaries and music (such as opera perfor ...

sketch show/comedy drama ''

Psychobitches ''Psychobitches'' is a Sky Arts British sketch comedy show directed by Jeremy Dyson, in which famous women from history and fiction seek help from a psychologist (played by Rebecca Front). Broadcast history ''Psychobitches'' was originally air ...

'' as Mother Teresa in the episode "Pilot". She returned to the series on three more occasions, each time playing a different character. She played Margot Fonteyn in the episode "Episode #1.1' (2013), Betty Ford in the episode "Episode #1.5" (2013) and Shirley Temple in the episode "Episode #2.6" (2014). On 25 December 2012, she appeared in BBC One's period drama ''

Call the Midwife ''Call the Midwife'' is a British period drama television series about a group of nurse midwives working in the East End of London in the late 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The principal cast of the show has included Jessica Raine, Miranda Hart, ...

'' as Mrs. Jenkins in the Christmas Special episode. On 13 February 2013, she appeared in BBC One's sitcom '' Bob Servant Independent'' as Margo Servant in the episode "The Media". On 25 December 2013, she returned to ''

'', this time playing Clara Oswald's Grandmother in the

Eleventh Doctor The Eleventh Doctor is an incarnation (otherwise known as regeneration) of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is played by Matt Smith in three series as well as five specials. As wi ...

episode " The Time of the Doctor". On 6 May 2014, she appeared in BBC One's drama anthology series '' Comedy Playhouse'' as Lady Cairnsworth in the episode "Miller's Mountain". On 1 November 2014, she reprised her role of Clara's Grandmother in the

Twelfth Doctor The Twelfth Doctor is an incarnation of The Doctor (Doctor Who), the Doctor, the protagonist of the British Science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi in three ...

episode " Dark Water". She was simply credited as 'Gran' in the end credits to both episodes.

Roles in theatre

1960s

In 1963, she starred as Fio Bates in '' Half a Sixpence'' at the

Cambridge Theatre The Cambridge Theatre is a West End theatre, on a corner site in Earlham Street facing Seven Dials, London, Seven Dials, in the London Borough of Camden, built in 1929–30 for Bertie Meyer on an "irregular triangular site". Design and const ...

in London.

1990s

In 1993, she starred as Beggar Woman in the

revival of ''

Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–1847). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet St ...

'' at the

. In 1996, she starred as Celestine in '' Martin Guerre: The Musical'' at the Prince Edward Theatre in London. In 1998, she starred as Jack's Mother in ''

Into the Woods ''Into the Woods'' is a 1986 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. T ...

'' at the

Donmar Warehouse The Donmar Warehouse is a 251-seat, not-for-profit Off-West End theatre in Covent Garden, London, England. It first opened on 18 July 1977. Sam Mendes, Michael Grandage, Josie Rourke and Michael Longhurst have all served as artistic direc ...

in London.

2010–present

In 2015 she played Mrs. Fiedke in the National Theatre of Scotland's production of

Laurie Sansom Laurie Sansom (born 1972) is a British theatre director. He is currently the Artistic Director of Halifax-based theatre company Northern Broadsides. Early life and education Sansom grew up in East Peckham, near Tonbridge, Kent. He attended ...

's adaptation of

Muriel Spark Dame Muriel Sarah Spark (; 1 February 1918 – 13 April 2006). was a List of Scottish novelists, Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet and essayist. Life Muriel Camberg was born in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh, the daughter of Bernar ...

's novella, '' The Driver's Seat''. In 2017, she starred as Gloria in ''Silver Lining'', a new sitcom written by

Sandi Toksvig Sandra Birgitte Toksvig (; ; born 3 May 1958) is a Danish-British broadcaster, comedian, presenter and writer on British radio, stage and television. She is also a political activist, having co-founded the Women's Equality Party in 2015. She ha ...

, at the Rose Theatre, Kingston.

Personal life

Reid was formerly married to actor Julian Curry. On 11 April 2008, after 32 years together, she and partner Terry Bullen were married in

, at a private ceremony watched by 12 close friends. She is involved with charity

Plan International Plan International is a development and humanitarian organisation based in the United Kingdom that works in over 80 countries across Africa, the Americas, and Asia, focusing on children’s rights. In 2024, Plan International reached 43 million ...

Filmography

Film

Television

Video Game credits

* '' Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers'' (2020) as Master Matoya (taking over the role from Sheila Steafel, who died in 2019)

Select National Theatre credits

* ''

The Master Builder ''The Master Builder'' () is a play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was first published in December 1892 and is regarded as one of Ibsen's more significant and revealing works. Performance The play was published by Gyldendal AS in C ...

'' (1964) * ''

'' (1964/1965) * ''

The Crucible ''The Crucible'' is a 1953 play by the American playwright Arthur Miller. It is a dramatized and partially fictionalized story of the Salem witch trials that took place in the Province of Massachusetts Bay from 1692 to 1693. Miller wrote ...

'' (1965) directed by

* '' Love for Love'' (1965) * '' Three Sisters'' (1967/1968) directed by Olivier * '' Home and Beauty'' (1968/1969) * ''

Love's Labour's Lost ''Love's Labour's Lost'' is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s for a performance at the Inns of Court before Queen Elizabeth I. It follows the King of Navarre and his three companions as ...

'' (1968) * '' Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'' (1993)

Other selected theatre credits

* '' Martin Guerre'': Prince Edward Theatre, London (1996) * ''

The Importance of Being Earnest ''The Importance of Being Earnest, a Trivial Comedy for Serious People'' is a play by Oscar Wilde, the last of his four drawing-room plays, following ''Lady Windermere's Fan'' (1892), ''A Woman of No Importance'' (1893) and ''An Ideal Husban ...

'':

Theatre Royal Haymarket The Theatre Royal Haymarket (also known as Haymarket Theatre or the Little Theatre) is a West End theatre in Haymarket in the City of Westminster which dates back to 1720, making it the third-oldest London playhouse still in use. Samuel Foote ...

, London (1999) *''

Pericles, Prince of Tyre ''Pericles, Prince of Tyre'' is a Jacobean play written at least in part by William Shakespeare and included in modern editions of his collected works despite questions over its authorship, as it was not included in the First Folio. It was p ...

'':

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse is an indoor theatre forming part of the Shakespeare's Globe complex, along with the recreated Globe Theatre on Bankside in Southwark, London. Built by making use of 17th-century plans for an indoor English theatre, ...

, London (2015) * ''

Troilus and Cressida ''The Tragedy of Troilus and Cressida'', often shortened to ''Troilus and Cressida'' ( or ), is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1602. At Troy during the Trojan War, Troilus and Cressida begin a love affair. Cressida is forc ...

'':

Royal Shakespeare Company The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs over 1,000 staff and opens around 20 productions a year. The RSC plays regularly in London, Stratf ...

(2018)

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reid, Sheila 1937 births Living people Actresses from Glasgow People educated at Moreton Hall School Scottish film actresses Scottish stage actresses ] Scottish television actresses