Floss McPhee looking bemused.
Sheila with Number 96 co-star Elisabeth Kirkby
Sheila Kennelly, (born 28th December, 1936)[1] is a British-born, retired actress who was a member of Home and Away's original cast. She played Floss McPhee, a former circus worker who lived with her husband Neville in a gypsy van in the Caravan Park. She first appeared in the pilot episode and was seen on-screen until March 1989. She returned for brief guest appearances in the first decade of this century.[2]
Pre Home And Away career[]
Sheila Kennelly was born on the 28th December, 1936 in Marine Square , Brighton, Sussex [1] England. She and her family emigrated to Australia when she was young. She began working as an actor in the 1950, appearing in numerous theatre productions. From the late 1960s onwards she started to appear on TV. Before playing Floss McPhee on Home and Away, she was best known as brassy barmaid Norma Whittaker on the Ten Network soap Number 96. From 1980-84 she starred in the sitcom Kingswood County as Rosa Berlucci. [2]
Home And Away 1988-1989.[]
In 1987 Sheila was cast as retired circus worker/tarot reader Floss McPhee and appeared in the pilot episode of Home and Away. Her on-screen husband of 38 years was Neville McPhee (played by the late Frank Lloyd). They lived in a gypsy van in the Caravan Park and proved to be good friends to the Fletcher family. Floss and Neville's most memorable storyline was when they went in search of the grandson they'd never met, and reached an arrangement with their estranged son.
Floss and Neville were written out of the show in 1988, with their final scenes airing in March of the following year. They left Summer Bay to join a circus. Frank Lloyd never returned to the show, though Sheila did in the 2000s.
After Home and Away[]
Sheila made guest appearances on A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors, Big Sky and All Saints. Her 2008 appearances on Home and Away were her last TV credits.
Return to Home And Away 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008[]
She reprised the role of Floss McPhee in the 2000s. Her most notable return was for Sally Fletcher's wedding in 2000.