Sheila Mercier
Encyclopedia
Sheila Mercier is an English actress and the elder sister of actor Brian Rix. She was born in Kingston upon Hull
, England
, United Kingdom
.
After education at the French Convent, Hull and Hunmanby Hall, Yorkshire, she trained for the stage at the Stratford-upon-Avon
College of Drama. Mercier had a long career on stage prior to her television career. Donald Wolfit
had talent spotted her and she toured with Wolfit's own Shakespeare company in 1939. During the Second World War she joined the WAAF
division of the Royal Air Force
, eventually becoming adjutant
. Mercier appeared in supporting roles in a handful of films, and the television series Dial RIX (1963) alongside her husband, Peter Mercier.
She is best known for her role as the matriarch Annie Sugden in the long-running British soap opera
Emmerdale
. She appeared from the very first episode in 1972 and appeared as a main cast member until 1994. Aged 89, Mercier appeared in a special programme dedicated to Emmerdale
s 5,000th episode, where members of the cast were interviewed. It was transmitted on ITV
in May 2008. She has occasionally returned to the series since her departure. On 9/10 February 2009, aged 90, she made a special guest appearance on Emmerdale
as Annie Sugden, attending the funeral of her on-screen son, Jack Sugden
(most recently played by the late actor Clive Hornby
, who died the year previously). In July 2008 she was a mourner at Hornby's actual funeral.
Her real-life husband, actor Peter Mercier, died in 1993, after 42 years of marriage. The couple's son, Nigel, also worked in the TV industry as a videotape editor, now retired. In 1994, Mercier's autobiography, Annie's Song: My Life & Emmerdale, written with Anthony Hayward
, was published.
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
After education at the French Convent, Hull and Hunmanby Hall, Yorkshire, she trained for the stage at the Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
College of Drama. Mercier had a long career on stage prior to her television career. Donald Wolfit
Donald Wolfit
Sir Donald Wolfit, KBE was a well-known English actor-manager.-Biography:Wolfit, who was "Woolfitt" at birth was born at New Balderton, near Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire and attended the Magnus Grammar School and made his stage début in 1920...
had talent spotted her and she toured with Wolfit's own Shakespeare company in 1939. During the Second World War she joined the WAAF
Women's Auxiliary Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Air Force , whose members were invariably referred to as Waafs , was the female auxiliary of the Royal Air Force during World War II, established in 1939. At its peak strength, in 1943, WAAF numbers exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week.A Women's Royal Air...
division of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, eventually becoming adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
. Mercier appeared in supporting roles in a handful of films, and the television series Dial RIX (1963) alongside her husband, Peter Mercier.
She is best known for her role as the matriarch Annie Sugden in the long-running British soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
. She appeared from the very first episode in 1972 and appeared as a main cast member until 1994. Aged 89, Mercier appeared in a special programme dedicated to Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
s 5,000th episode, where members of the cast were interviewed. It was transmitted on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in May 2008. She has occasionally returned to the series since her departure. On 9/10 February 2009, aged 90, she made a special guest appearance on Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
as Annie Sugden, attending the funeral of her on-screen son, Jack Sugden
Jack Sugden
John Jacob "Jack" Sugden is a fictional character in the British television soap opera Emmerdale. The character was originally played by Andrew Burt from 1972 to 1974 with a brief return in 1976, when he left for Italy to write a book. On his return in 1980 he was played by Clive Hornby...
(most recently played by the late actor Clive Hornby
Clive Hornby
Clive Hornby was an English actor, known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as farmer Jack Sugden.-Television:...
, who died the year previously). In July 2008 she was a mourner at Hornby's actual funeral.
Her real-life husband, actor Peter Mercier, died in 1993, after 42 years of marriage. The couple's son, Nigel, also worked in the TV industry as a videotape editor, now retired. In 1994, Mercier's autobiography, Annie's Song: My Life & Emmerdale, written with Anthony Hayward
Anthony Hayward
Anthony Hayward is a British journalist and author. He is a regular contributor to The Independent and The Guardian, and has written more than 20 books about television and film...
, was published.