Any Sheila Keith Fans Here?

[Truegho]

Sheile Keith, the British horror actress, who starred in such classics as Frightmare and House of Whipcord, has often been described as a "distaff Karloff". I am a big fan of both Karloff and Keith, and so would certainly go along with that description.

Are any of you Sheila Keith fans?

[erebus]

Yes. She was superb in the Pete Walker stuff in particular. Always preferred her villainous roles. Notable in House of Whipcord and my personal favorite Frightmare.
A charming and soft spoken lady playing such nasty sinister parts. But she was damn good at it.

[Truegho]

I totally agree. She was truly a fine actress. I remember the World of Horror magazine (April 1976 issue) describing her as a "distaff Karloff". And I would tend to echo that, for she could really play a villain that scared the crap out of you!

[gilmore]

Jun 5, 2014 0:53:24 GMT Truegho said:

Are any of you Sheila Keith fans?

Yes! Yes! and thrice yes! I still remember my first encounter with this fine actress in Pete Walker's most disturbing film, Frightmare. I caught the film on a double bill with The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue probably around 1977. Knowing nothing about either film, and not actually old enough to be in the cinema in the first place, I stumbled into a vortex of 70s horror from which I have never emerged. I was particularly impressed by Sheila Keith, who seemed to posses the same horror 'x-factor' as Christopher Lee or Vincent Price. And how refreshing to encounter a 'scream queen' who came to prominence in middle-age! Walker's best films (i.e. all the ones SK was in) would be much lesser experiences without her.

[Truegho]

I totally agree. She was a fantastic actress, esp when it came to playing the evil, autocratic matriarch. Today's horror movies are all the poorer for her absence.