Celebrated actress Dame Sheila Hancock, 90, has described why she doesn’t want to be a “national treasure” for fear that people will take what she says “too seriously”.
The star also explained how scared she has become to express her opinions as she gets older, due to the threat of cancel culture.
In a new article for MailOnline, the talented stage and screen actress recalled how her grandchildren would often warn her “not to say” certain things in order to not cause offence.
She wrote: “I confess that nowadays I am sometimes nervous of expressing an opinion. (Not often! I hear you shout.)
“Because of the threat of being ‘cancelled’. That word sounds so terrifying. Erased from life.”
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She admitted: “I’ve seldom been so confused. Copying the Government, I blame everything on Covid. My thoughts are muddled.
“I am emerging from our enforced hibernation bewildered, unnerved, cringing in the light at the end of a long, scary, tunnel.”
Sheila is one of the West End’s most high-profile actresses, having won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical for her role in 2007’s Cabaret.
She has also been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award five additional times, including for 1978’s Annie, 1980’s Sweeney Todd, 1982’s The Winter’s Tale, 1989’s Prin and 2010’s Sister Act.
Sheila has also acted in high-profile television shows, including EastEnders, New Tricks, Hustle, Casualty and Endeavour.
She has also appeared in films including 1964’s Carry On Cleo, 1980’s The Wildcats of St Trinian’s and 2008’s The Boy in Striped Pyjamas.
Viewers also enjoyed Sheila making appearances as herself in shows like Channel 4’s Celebrity Gogglebox and BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special.
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