40 Facts About Sheila Florance

Sheila Mary Florance was an Australian actress known for her work in theatre, television and film.

In 1948, Florance returned to Australia and resumed her acting career, initially in the theatre before transitioning to film and television.

Sheila Florance appeared in various Crawford Productions, gaining recognition for her role as Dossie Rumsay in Bellbird.

Sheila Florance achieved international fame for her portrayal of Lizzie Birdsworth, an elderly alcoholic convict, in the television series Prisoner.

Sheila Florance died in 1991 from lung cancer, a week after receiving the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her final film, A Woman's Tale.

Sheila Florance was born on 24 July 1916 at 42 Carrington Grove, East St Kilda, Melbourne.

Sheila Florance was the eldest daughter of costumier Frances Josephine and school teacher James Horn Florance.

In February 1935, Sheila Florance achieved one of her early theatrical successes, appearing in John Hastings Turner's play The Spot on the Sun.

On 19 April 1934, at the age of 17, Sheila Florance married Roger Lightfoot Oyston, a visiting Englishman, at Holy Angels Catholic Church in Balaclava following a whirlwind romance.

Sheila Florance often recounted a story of having a second daughter, Bridget, who she reported was killed in an air raid in 1941.

Sheila Florance did not receive confirmation of his death until the following year.

Sheila Florance was reunited with her husband and the family moved into a run-down wooden cottage in Prahran, Victoria.

Sheila Florance died of cancer at the age of 75 on 12 October 1991.

Sheila Florance had a full house and a standing ovation.

Sheila Florance worked alongside actors such as Barry Humphries and Peter O'Shaughnessy.

Sheila Florance's played Teresa Browne in the first Australian production of The Living Room.

Sheila Florance played Cassandra in Christopher Fry's adaptation of Tiger at the Gates at the opening of the newly built theatre complex on St Martin's Lane.

Sheila Florance continued working in theatre in the 1960s, although she spent less time there.

Sheila Florance earned a second Melbourne Critics Award nomination for her performance in The Chairs at the Little Theatre.

Also in 1962, Sheila Florance played Lady Macbeth in Macbeth at the Union Theatre.

Sheila Florance performed in Fritz Hochwalder's The Public Prosecutor at the Little Theatre, Summer of the Seventeenth Doll at Russell Street Theatre, and Michael Redgrave's adaptation of The Aspern Papers.

In 1963, Sheila Florance toured Victoria with the Union Theatre Repertory Company's productions of Arms and the Man and Peter Batey's The No-Hopers.

In 1987, Sheila Florance performed in two final stage productions: Uncle Vanya at the Anthill Theatre and The Impostor at St Martin's Youth Arts Centre.

In 1965, Sheila Florance made her film debut as a deaf-mute person in Clay.

Sheila Florance made her first of 18 appearances in Homicide and performed in Dangerous Corner, The Magic Boomerang, and Romanoff and Juliet in 1965.

In 1967, Sheila Florance began appearing intermittently as Dossie Rumsey in Bellbird, a role she continued into the 1970s.

In 1973, Sheila Florance appeared as Lorna Russell in the first episode of Ryan.

Sheila Florance continued to make single-episode appearances in television series such as Tandarra, Bluey, and Bobby Dazzler, while increasingly focusing on film work.

In 1976, Sheila Florance played Mavis Lipton in End Play and had a small role in Illuminations.

Sheila Florance was the only original cast member hired without an audition; Reg Watson offered her the role after reviewing her photograph and credits.

Sheila Florance remained with the series from its debut until episode 418 in 1984, appearing in 403 episodes.

Sheila Florance won two Logie Awards for her work on Prisoner: Best Lead Actress in a Series in 1981 and Best Supporting Actress in a Series in 1983.

Sheila Florance joined other cast members in Prisoner in Concert, a comedy musical spin-off filmed at Pentridge Prison in Coburg, Victoria.

Sheila Florance returned to the tour days after her operation.

Sheila Florance then appeared in Paul Cox's films Handle With Care as Margaret's mother and Cactus as Martha.

Sheila Florance concluded the 1980s with performances in the television movie Becca as Old Becca and in a 1989 episode of Round the Twist as Madame Fortune.

In 1990, Sheila Florance played the character Molly in Nirvana Street Murder.

Sheila Florance was given eight weeks to live and so we made A Woman's Tale with this hanging over us.

The film and Sheila Florance's performance garnered critical acclaim, winning Sheila Florance the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Source: AusStage, Sheila Florance appeared in numerous theatre roles in England and Australia.