 Sheila Mercier

Sheila Betty Mercier ("née" Rix; 1 January 1919 – 4 December 2019) was an English actress, of stage and television, best known for playing Annie Sugden in the soap opera "Emmerdale" for over 20 years, from the programme's first episode in 1972 until the mid-1990s, with a guest return in 2009.Mercier was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, the daughter of Herbert Rix (of J.R. Rix & Sons Ltd) and his wife Fanny.