Sheila's life journey began in the Highgate area of London, where she was born to a father who worked as a clerk in a shipping line office. She had an older sister and grew up with a passion for the performing arts. At the tender age of 12, she stumbled upon a chance to watch her friend rehearse for a pantomime at Golders Green, where she was spotted by Miss Terry, who offered her a role as a chorus member and understudy. This initial exposure led to her being picked out by Arthur Askey, who gave her a couple of lines to perform.
As the pantomime ran its course, Sheila learned about auditions for children to take over from the original cast of "The Sound of Music". She seized the opportunity and landed a part that would last for two years, working in two of the daughter's roles. By the time she left the production at 14, she had saved enough money to join the prestigious Corona Stage School. After graduating, she went on to work in various television shows, films, and stage productions, including a thriller, a musical, and a film.
At 17, Sheila landed a small part in the touring production of "On the Level", which was later expanded to include a solo number that received good reviews. Unfortunately, the show closed after a short run at the Saville Theatre in London. However, this setback didn't deter her from pursuing her dreams. She went on to secure a part as Nancy's friend Bet in the film adaptation of "Oliver" and appeared in another film, "Mrs Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter".
Sheila's next project was a television series called "Dear Mother Love Albert", alongside Rodney Bewes. This was followed by a small part in a Wendy Toye film set in Turkey. Returning to London, she joined the cast of a musical adaptation of "Pickwick Papers" alongside Roy Castle for C.B.C. During rehearsals, she heard about auditions for a stage musical called "Dames at Sea". She rushed over during her lunch break, was called back twice, and eventually landed a part.
After the London run, Sheila was the only member of the original cast to join the production for a run in Paris, solidifying her status as a talented and dedicated performer.
