Elizabeth Kelly.d.e.a.d: EastEnders’ Nellie Ellis legend d.i.e.s aged 104
EastEnders actress Elizabeth Kelly, who played Pauline Fowler's sharp-tongued aunt Nellie Ellis, has d.i.e.d at the age of 104 – the news has been shared ahead of her funeral service
A legendary EastEnders actress has d.i.e.d at the age of 104.
Elizabeth Kelly, who played Pauline Fowler’s sharp-tongued aunt Nellie Ellis on the soap across the span of seven years, had a string of roles across soaps and television throughout her career. Elizabeth also appeared in Coronation Street as Edie Burgess, in which she undertook the role for three episodes, as well as appearances in Home and Away, Grange Hill, Emmerdale, Heartbeat and The Bill.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne born Elizabeth also even appeared a cult indie film alongside Steve Coogan, called 24 Hour Party People. However, she was best known for her Albert Square-based role, appearing in 138 episodes of the soap.
The actress d.i.e.d at the age of 104 (
BBC)
Elizabeth was best known for her EastEnders role (
BBC)
Elizabeth, who was one of TV’s few centenarians, d.i.e.d at the age of 104 on Christmas Day. The actress d.i.e.d of “old age”, it is understood as Father Eddie Gubbins, from the church where Elizabeth’s funeral service will be held, told The Sun: “She had a very peaceful d.e.a.t.h in the end.
“She was a beautiful lady and very gracious.” Father Eddie saw the soap star a few days before her d.e.a.t.h as he recalled: “She was too frail for church, so we came to her in her care home… that would have been early December.”
A funeral service will be held later this month on February 17 at St Peter’s Church in Scarborough, which will be followed by a private burial. As news broke of Elizabeth’s d.e.a.t.h, tributes poured in on social media as one wrote on X: “Eastenders legend Elizabeth Kelly who starred as beloved busybody Nellie Ellis d.i.e.s aged 104 after 40-year TV career.”
Elizabeth was one of a few centenarians in the TV world (
ITV)
Another added on Facebook: “RIP to a soap legend”. As another commented: “RIP Aunty Nellie”.
Elizabeth’s acting career began in the late 1960s, when she was aged 46, as she appeared across soaps and television dramas. She played Nellie Ellis on EastEnders from 1993 until 1998, and made a return to Walford in 2000 for Ethel Skinner’s funeral.
After leaving EastEnders, Elizabeth continued acting as she appeared in The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Emmerdale and Heartbeat. She last appeared on-screen in 2007 as she played Edith Taylor in The Royal. She was aged 86 when she retired.
