Search the Collection

Sheila Sim

(1922-2016), Actress; wife of Sir Richard Attenborough

Sheila (née Sim), Lady Attenborough

Sitter in 6 portraits
Film and theatre actress, Sheila Sim trained at RADA. Her key films during the 1940s included A Canterbury Tale (1944) and The Guinea Pig (1948), in which she starred opposite her husband Richard Attenborough. They also co-starred on stage in the first London production of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap (1952). At the invitation of Noel Coward, Sim worked for the Actor's Charitable Trust, which she supported for more than sixty years. She also appeared with Ava Gardner in Albert Letwin's Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951).

Tell us More

List Thumbnail

Sheila Sim

by Roye (Horace Roye-Narbeth)
vintage print, 1940s
NPG x194325

Sheila Sim

by Fred Daniels
vintage bromide print, 1943
NPG x32914

Richard Attenborough; Joan Greenwood; Sheila Sim; Compton Mackenzie; Christine Norden (née Mary Lydia Thornton)

by London News Agency
bromide press print, 1949
NPG x184020

Richard Attenborough; Sheila Sim

by Reuben Saidman
bromide press print, 1950
NPG x198285

Sheila Sim

by Godfrey Argent
bromide print, 30 July 1969
NPG x166042

Sheila Sim; Bryan Forbes; Nanette Newman; Richard Attenborough

by John Drysdale
resin print
NPG x134370

Related People

Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough (husband)

Groups

Actors and actresses

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this person? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.

Tell us more

Can you tell us more about this person?

Sheila Sim