Today in LADW, we have Sheila Gill - once famous for playing glamorous Matron in "Mawdryn Undead", and a successful actress whose career spanned three decades. True, she only made one film in each decade, but the legend still stands.

Sheila Gill's historic film career began in 1970 in the film "Malteser" which was about a honey-comb centred chocolate that went on adventures. Straight out of RADA, the young Gill was snapped up for the role of "Mrs. Gershon", a kindly old cobblers wife and part-time Matron who used to mend the shoes of the schoolboys at St. Pricks College, Cambridge.

On a roll now, Gill's agent came up with her next part only 16 years later when she starred in her own mini series. The hauntingly named "Paradise Postponed" gave her the acclaimed part of "Mrs Beasley", a lovable old Matron who was marooned on a desert island.

Only eight years later, Gill was in work again. She didn't sack her agent at this stage for fear that her almost constant stream of work would dry up; he had managed to half the time between her first two jobs, so hopefully by the time Sheila reached 106 she would be working every week. This time she played "Old Woman", a prestigious part which she beat Julia Roberts and Live Tyler for. The twist in the Oscar nominated "U.F.O" was that the "Old Woman", played by Gill, turned out to be a Matron from space. 

Career Resume (TV):

When JNT needed a matron for the 1983 Dr Who adventure "Mawdryn Undead" there was only one real contender. He tracked down Gill, who was at that time giving seminars on playing Matrons at the London School For Performing Poofs, and begged her to play the part of "Matron" for no money. Gill tocked him sternly, said "for once you'll do as you're told!" and the part was magically hers.

Sheila currently awaits her next film role, and spends her evenings knitting cardigans and cursing the memory of Hattie Jacques.