IT’S fair to say that Shelia Hancock is a national treasure, thanks to her incredible career as an actress.
Sadly in 2002, she lost the love of her life, when her beloved husband John Thaw suddenly died.
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Who is Sheila Hancock?
Dame Sheila Hancock was born on February 22, 1933 and is an English actress.
After graduating from the esteemed RADA, the actress started her career in 1957 and has continued to be active ever since.
Her role in 2007’s Cabaret won her a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
Sheila received four other Laurence Olivier Award nominations for her performances in Sweeney Todd, The Winter’s Tale, Prin and Sister Act.
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She was also nominated for the prestigious Tony Award for her Broadway debut in Entertaining Mr.Sloane.
When did Sheila Hancock marry John Thaw?
Sheila wed Inspector Morse actor John Thaw in 1973.
The couple remained married until his death in 2002.
The actress wrote the 2004 book The Two of Us about her 28-year marriage to John.
This was followed by her 2008 book Just Me which detailed her coming to terms with widowhood after his death from oesophageal cancer.
Who was Sheila Hancock’s first husband Alec Ross?
Shelia was married to actor Alec Ross from 1955 until his death ( also from oesophageal cancer) in 1971.
While she was still married to her first husband, John declared his love for the actress after the curtains closed on a theatre show they were both starring in.
The actress previously revealed how she remembered that the Morse actor was “embarrassed” when he told her how he felt.
“He was so embarrassed!” she told the Radio Times in 2021.
“He just thought that I was going out of his life and he wanted to say it.
“He also said, ‘I love you and I will for the rest of my life,’ which is such an extraordinary thing for somebody to say – but he did and it was lovely.”
Does Sheila Hancock have any children?
Shelia had a daughter called Melanie with her first husband Alec, who John adopted.
Together, they welcomed a daughter called Joanna.
John also had another daughter from a previous relationship called Abigail.
All three daughters followed their famous parents’ footsteps and are actresses.
What movies and TV shows did Sheila Hancock star in?
Sheila continues to be an in demand actress, with her career spanning over six decades.
Some of her biggest shows include The Discovery of Witches, Delicious, and Unforgotten.
In film her credits include Carry On Cleo (1964), The Wildcats of St Trinian’s (1980), Buster (1988), Three Men and a Little Lady (1990), The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) and Edie (2017).
