Sheila Fearn (born 3 October 1940 in Leicester) is an English retired actress best known for playing Audrey, the sister of Terry Collier in BBC situation comedies The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, and also as Ann Fourmile, the next door neighbour in the Thames Television sitcom George and Mildred.
Sheila Fearn | |
---|---|
Born | Leicester, England | 3 October 1940
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1957–1988 |
Early life
editFearn attended Gateway Girls Grammar School on Elbow Lane in Leicester, which closed in 1960.
Career
editOn film, Fearn appeared in Billy Liar (1963), Catch Us If You Can (1965) and Time Bandits (1981), as well as the film versions of both The Likely Lads (1976) and George and Mildred (1980). Fearn's other television credits include Adam Adamant Lives!, Paul Temple, Crown Court, East of Ipswich by Michael Palin, Emergency Ward 10, Thriller (1 episode, 1974), Walter, Z-Cars and The Avengers. She also played Freddie, a girlfriend of Ronnie Corbett's character Timothy, in Sorry! She also appeared many times with The Scaffold.
Likely Lads writer Ian La Frenais said of her "she was sexy and funny and she knew John Lennon. Sheila always found time for everyone, and I now think of her and Audrey with great affection".[1]
Fearn retired from acting in 1988 aged 48 after breaking a leg during a fall from a mountain, leaving her with a pronounced limp, which made her believe casting directors would no longer be inclined to employ her.
Filmography
editYear | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1963 | Coronation Street | Gloria Dee | 2 episodes |
1963 | Billy Liar | Telephonist | Uncredited |
1963–64 | Emergency Ward 10 | Nurse Elizabeth Benskin | 7 episodes |
1964 | A Hard Day's Night | Makeup-lady | Uncredited |
1964–66 | The Likely Lads | Audrey Collier | 9 episodes |
1965–76 | Z-Cars | Greer Hatton / Gwen Newcombe / Josie Benson / Lucy Morrison | 5 episodes |
1965 | The Wednesday Play | Ann Johnson | Episode: "Wear a Very Big Hat" |
1965 | Catch Us If You Can | Shirley | Uncredited |
1965 | Dixon of Dock Green | Pat Rogers | Episode: "The Intruders" |
1965–66 | The Big Spender | Polly | 6 episodes |
1966 | Weavers Green | Sue Patterson | 3 episodes |
1966 | Adam Adamant Lives! | Susie | Episode: "Death Has a Thousand Faces" |
1966 | Drama 61-67 | Loretta Mays | Episode: "Drama '66: A Hero of Modern Industry" |
1967 | Armchair Theatre | Roma | Episode: "A World of Time" |
1967 | No Hiding Place | Jennifer Hemlyn | Episode: "A Murder Is a Murder" |
1967 | The Beverly Hillbillies | Young lady | Episode: "Clampett Castle" |
1967 | The Avengers | Jenny | Episode: "Murdersville" |
1968 | Public Eye | Valerie Kitson | Episode: "If This Is Lucky, I'd Rather Be Jonah" |
1968 | The Expert | Jean Chambers | Episode: "Nice Day" |
1969 | Barrister at Law | Catherine Brent | TV movie |
1969 | Special Branch | Det. Sgt. Sarah Gifford | Episode: "The Children of Delight" |
1969 | Hadleigh | Shirley Spence | Episode: "For Those in Peril" |
1970 | Paul Temple | Leda Bailey | Episode: "The Man from the Sea" |
1971 | Trial | Gwen Chappell | Episode: "Good People" |
1972 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | Audrey | Episode: "An Arrow for Little Audrey" |
1972 | New Scotland Yard | Joan Prentice | Episode: "And When You're Wrong" |
1972–74 | Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? | Audrey Collier | 11 episodes |
1973 | ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Barbara | 11 episodes |
1973 | Love Story | Sally | Episode: "Walter" |
1974 | Thriller | Prudence Claire | Episode: "Sign It Death" |
1975 | Spy Trap | Mrs. Church | Episode: "A Nice Place to Live" |
1975 | Crown Court | Mrs. Deborah Todd | Episode: "A Nice Place to Live" |
1976 | The Likely Lads | Audrey Collier | |
1976–80 | George and Mildred | Ann Fourmile | 38 episodes |
1977–78 | The Flockton Flyer | Kathy Carter | 6 episodes |
1978 | Parables | Carol Wibberley | Episode: "Neighbours" |
1980 | George and Mildred | Ann Fourmile | |
1981 | Time Bandits | Kevin's mother | |
1982 | Sorry! | Freddie | 3 episodes |
1987 | Screen Two | Mrs Hargreaves | Episode: "East of Ipswich" |
1988 | News at Twelve | Iris Swindley | 6 episodes, (final appearance) |
External links
edit- Sheila Fearn at IMDb