Sheila Kennelly
Sheila Kennelly (c 1939) is an English-born Australian character actress of theatre, television and film, with a vast repotoire spanning over 50 years in the industry, born in Sussex, UK, she came to Australia with her family and trained at the independent theatre. She has played several television soap opera and comedy relief roles starting in the 1970s. Her career was less than spectacular, having appeared mainly in repertory, pantomime and music hall, before becoming a household name in soap opera Number 96 in Australia . Norma and husband Les (Gordon McDougall) were comedy characters added to the cast of the series a few months after it premiered in 1972. Her other well-known role was as Floss McPhee an original character in the seven network series Home and Away.
Biography
Kennelly started acting on stage and commenced television work at the ABC in several plays, Crackerjack, and "Pastures of the Blue Crane" (Rose). Guest roles in Division 4 were followed by Linda in You Can't See Round Corners.
After 4 ½ years with Number 96 Kennelly had a bi-weekly segment titled (Sheila's Kitchen) in "Keep Pace With Harriet", daytime variety show, giving hints and recipes. Many guest appearances in series and films were made over the next few years: including A Country Practice, Flying Doctors, Daily at Dawn, Glenview High, Doctor Down Under, Phoenix, Sweet & Sour, 3 in "English at Work", Big Sky, Hampton Court, and in All Saints Mini-series included Anzacs (Ma Baker), Return to Eden (Lizzie), "Spring & Fall" (Marj. in Every Man for Herself), Come in Spinner and Pastures of the Blue Crane.
Other sustaining roles in TV series have been Mabel Dodds in "Carrots", Cecilia in "Secret Valley", Mrs. Nobel in "Kideo!", Rosa Bertolucci in Kingswood Country.
Films include "The Tale of Ruby Rose", "Number 96 – The Movie", "Fluteman", "How Wonderful", "Tarflowers", "All at Sea", "Mail Order Bride".
Kennelly has also on occasions returned for guest appearances in soap opera Home & Away, the last being in 2008.
Kennelly has appeared in many stage plays and musical melodramas over the years. She commutes from her small cattle farm in the Hunter Region.