Sheila Mercier

Sheila Betty Mercier (née Rix; 1 January 1919 – 4 December 2019) was an English actress, of stage and television, best known for playing Annie Sugden in the soap opera Emmerdale for over 20 years, from the programme's first episode in 1972 until 1994, with a guest return in 2009.

Early life and education Mercier was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, the daughter of Herbert Rix (of J.R. Rix & Sons Ltd) and his wife Fanny. She was their third child and second daughter; her younger brother was the actor and campaigner Brian Rix. After education at the French Convent (Hull) and at Hunmanby Hall (both East Riding of Yorkshire), she trained for the stage at the Stratford-upon-Avon College of Drama under Randle Ayrton.

Career Mercier had a long career on stage before her television career. Donald Wolfit had talent spotted her and she toured with Wolfit's own Shakespeare company After the war, she worked in repertory theatre until 1951, receiving positive reviews from critics. One review said of her performance in The Enchanted Cottage in 1948, "Sheila Rix is outstanding as the witch-like housekeeper." both at the Whitehall Theatre itself, on tour to regional theatres, and in televised performances on BBC Television. Critics commented, "Sheila Mercier ..[is] up to the second in tempo and sense of fun;"

In 1972, she was cast in the role she is best known for, the matriarch Annie Sugden, one of the principal characters in the new British soap opera Emmerdale Farm (later simply Emmerdale). She appeared as a main cast member until 1994 with rare occasional appearances later including the funeral for on-screen son Joe in June 1995, along with screen husband Amos Brearly. In 1979, Hazel Holt in The Stage wrote: "I never cease to admire the sheer consistency of Sheila Mercier's performance as Annie Sugden in Yorkshire's Emmerdale Farm. ... Every Tuesday and Friday, week in and week out she is never less than convincing." Mercier later reprised her role several times following the character's 1994 retirement.

Personal life and death In 1951, Mercier married actor Peter Mercier. They were married for 42 years until his death in 1993. The couple's son, Nigel Mercier (6 December 1954 – 6 January 2017), also worked in the TV industry, initially with BBC Television News at Television Centre as a videotape editor and then at LWT. The two women became close friends. 1940 London Wall John Van Druten New Theatre 1947 The Man Who Came to Dinner George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart Royal Court, Warrington Philip Stainton Players 1948 Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary? E. Vivian Tidmarsh Tonbridge Repertory Theatre Robert Marshall Company 1948 Tons of Money Will Evans and Arthur Valentine Tonbridge Repertory Theatre Louise Allington Robert Marshall Company 1948 The Cat and the Canary John Willard Tonbridge Repertory Theatre Mammy Pleasant Robert Marshall Company 1948 The Enchanted Cottage Arthur Wing Pinero Tonbridge Repertory Theatre Housekeeper Robert Marshall Company 1948 Hay Fever Noël Coward Tonbridge Repertory Theatre Judith Bliss Robert Marshall Company 1948 The Eagle with Two Heads Jean Cocteau The Queen Ilkley Repertory Company 1949 Jupiter Laughs A. J. Cronin Margate Hippodrome Viking Theatre Company 1949 An Inspector Calls J. B. Priestley Margate Hippodrome Viking Theatre Company 1949 The Importance of Being Earnest Oscar Wilde Margate Hippodrome Lady Bracknell Viking Theatre Company 1949 Room For Two Gilbert Wakefield Margate Hippodrome Clare Broden Viking Theatre Company 1949 Rookery Nook Ben Travers Margate Hippodrome Mrs Leverett Viking Theatre Company 1949 Sweet Aloes Jay Mallory Margate Hippodrome Viking Theatre Company 1950 Rope Patrick Hamilton Bridlington Spa Viking Theatre Company 1951 Castle in the Air Margate Hippodrome "Boss" Trent Viking Theatre Company

Selected Whitehall farces