Sheila Bernette

Sheila Bernette (occasionally Burnette; 30 March 1931 – 12 January 2026) was an English actress and singer who appeared in film, television and radio with a career spanning over 50 years.

Early life Bernette was born Sheila Mary Poncini in Marylebone, London on 30 March 1931. She was the daughter of Charles Poncini, a restaurant waiter of Italian descent, and his wife Freda (nee Morris). . She attended the Italia Conti Stage Academy from the age of two, specialising in ballet, leaving after five years to concentrate on acting at the Aida Foster Theatre School.

Career Bernette began her television career in 1955. She was popular and appeared as herself from 1968 in multiple UK television shows. Largely appearing in comedy roles, she was a regular sidekick to many stars including Dick Emery and Leslie Crowther. Bernette appeared as herself in many television productions. She is remembered as one of the regular practical jokers in the UK version of Candid Camera. Very petite, Bernette usually wore her hair up to increase her height. A competent singer, she was a regular on variety shows such as the Good Old Days and The Black and White Minstrel Show and appeared on the Royal Variety Performance show of 1970. In addition to her film and television roles, Bernette was a regular performer at the Players' Theatre in Covent Garden.

In her Royal Variety Performance, she was introduced by Leslie Crowther as a Russian defector, the ballerina "Natalia Nokemova", and performed the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy with Crowther playing ballet cricketer "Freddie Trumanov".

Film Year Title Role Notes 1960 Sons and Lovers Polly 1961 Ticket to Paradise Clarice 1967 Daft as a Brush TV movie 1971 The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins Mrs Spencer 1975 Eskimo Nell Casting girl 1975 Three for All Rhoda 1978 What's Up Nurse! Mrs Garrard 1986 Car Trouble 1987 Kin of the Castle TV movie 2009 Driving Aphrodite Dorcas Sources:

Documentaries Year Title Role Notes 1968 A Little of What You Fancy Herself Performer/singer (e.g., "She Was Poor But She Was Honest"); documentary on British Music Hall with revivals at the Players' Theatre 1994 This Is Your Life Herself Episode on Leslie Crowther 2010 Smile... This Was Candid Camera Herself TV special; 50th anniversary celebration of the UK Candid Camera (performer of theme song and featured as original prankster) Sources: