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Sheila Keith

Sheila Keith

Actor · Died October 14, 2004, aged 84 · Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Character actress Sheila Keith was born to Scottish parents in London, England on June 9, 1920. Keith was raised since the age of two by an aunt in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Sheila trained to be an actress at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England. Keith began her acting career in repertory theater at the Pitlochry Festival Theatre in Scotland and the Bristol Old Vic in Bristol, England. Among the West End theater productions Sheila acted in are "Present Laughter," "Mame" (with Ginger Rogers), "Deathtrap," and "Anyone for Denis?". Keith started acting in various British TV shows in the mid-1960's and acted in her first movie in the early 1970's. Sheila achieved her greatest and most enduring cult cinema popularity with her memorable portrayals of nasty middle-aged women in several horror films directed by Pete Walker; she's especially chilling as vicious prison warder Walker in House of Whipcord (1974) and likewise quite frightening as aging, but still lethal cannibal Dorothy Yates in Frightmare (1974). Keith died at age 84 on October 14, 2004 in Chertsey, Surrey, England. She was survived by a son.

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
June 9, 1920
Died
October 14, 2004 (aged 84)
From
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
10 on MovieCove · 48 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 34% in 30 days

What are Sheila Keith's films like?

Across their 5 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Power and Survival.

Themes

share of theme weight
Power
24%
Survival
23%
Self
21%
Morality
17%
Bonds
14%
Corruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeViolence2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 5 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 0 · Dark 4

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 2 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

Intense: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their intense movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 2 · Intense 3

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 1 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 1 · Affecting 1 · Heavy 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 4 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 3 of 4 analyzed roles.

Shadow
3 of 4
Threshold guardian
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Dread
4
Cold
2
Melancholic
2
Absurd
1

How their films linger

Unsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet1
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Sheila Keith's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 10 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Sheila Keith's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

48 credits, 10 with a MovieCove page.

  • Walker's Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Walker / Yates / Brabazon (archive footage)

  • House of the Long Shadows... Revisited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as (archival footage)

  • Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Grandma Lee

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Hamish Macbeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Auntie Ella

  • The Rainbow Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Bernadette

  • The Brittas Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Heaton-Jones

  • Wild Flowers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Marguerite

  • The Paradise Club (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 2 episodes · as Clara Malone · as Ma Kane

  • Venus Peter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Epp

  • After Henry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Newby

  • Wild Flowers: Women of South Lebanon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Hell's Bells (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Countrywoman

  • Clockwise(1986)

    as Pat's Mother

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Curator

  • Fresh Fields (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Hotelier

  • Fireworks for Elspeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Mrs. Bannerman

  • House of the Long Shadows(1983)

    as Victoria Grisbane

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Return of the Soldier(1982)

    as Sister

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Escape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Dowager Lady Lucan

  • The Other 'Arf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 27 episodes · Actor

  • Cribb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Plummer

  • Bless Me Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 21 episodes · as Mother Stephen

  • The Comeback(1978)

    as Mrs. B

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • A Roof Over My Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Our Kid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Mother

  • Jubilee 1977 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother

  • The Confessional(1976)

    as Miss Brabazon

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as Mrs. Cassidy

  • Ballet Shoes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 6 episodes · as Dr. Jakes

  • Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • David Copperfield (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mrs Steerforth

  • Frightmare(1974)

    as Dorothy Yates

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Father Brown(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Sands

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all shows

  • Moody and Pegg (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 5 episodes · as Auntie Ethel

  • House of Whipcord(1974)

    as Walker

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Get Charlie Tully(1972)

    as Lady Magistrate

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • It's Murder. But Is It Art? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 5 episodes · as Mrs MacPherson

  • The Regiment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Moonstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Yolland

  • It All Goes to Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Councillor Mrs. Parker

  • The Ronnie Barker Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Granville

  • Nicholas Nickleby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs. Squeers

  • Present Laughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Miss Erikson

  • The Blackmailing of Mr. S (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Miss Tripp

  • Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Cynthia Ffouldes

  • Dr. Finlay's Casebook (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Two Bits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Julia

Career shape

Star power in the 83rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 48 titles, 47 of them dated from 1962 to 2023; peak year 1974.

Highest rated

The Confessional (1976)

Midcredits 55th

Most popular right now

The Comeback (1978)

Film career

19622023

Peak 1974 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1974Screen debut· House of Whipcord

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting48 of 48: 48 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score52nd

By decade

1960s8 · acting1970s18 · acting1980s14 · acting1990s4 · acting2000s1 · acting2010s1 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Sheila Keith's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 8; across their 5 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Reach · how many have seen their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 5

Midcredits score across 10 titles, by percentile

  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th3

Shape of the crowd

None of their 10 titles divides audiences: 6 are Mixed.

  • Crowd Pleaser4
  • Mixed6

Most loved · actor

Clockwise (1986)

Midcredits 65th · 59% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Sheila Keith's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, every category sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Sex & Nudity5 titles18–49 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Sheila Keith work with?

People who share at least 2 of Sheila Keith's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Pete Walker shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors