EastEnders and Coronation Street star Elizabeth Kelly dies aged 104 after landing first major TV role at 50
EastEnders legend and soap stalwart Elizabeth Kelly has died at the age of 104.
Elizabeth Kelly - a familiar face to millions as EastEnders star Nellie Ellis - has died aged 104. The actor, who also appeared in the likes of Grange Hill, Emmerdale, Heartbeat and The Bill, was best known for her role as Nellie, a friend of stalwart soap character Pauline Fowler in Albert Square.
Her career spanned more than four decades and included a big-screen role alongside Steve Coogan in indie hit, 24 Hour Party People, as well as her numerous TV appearances.
She was born Elizabeth Trower in 1921, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and had to wait until the age of 50 before landing her first major TV role - as Edie Burgess in an episode of Coronation Street.
But Kelly went on to become a familiar face to millions of UK TV fans, racking up more than 130 episodes of EastEnders as Nellie, Pauline Fowler's aunt.
She retired from acting in 2007 after an appearance in The Royal, spending her time away from the camera with family - including a daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren - in North Yorkshire.
It is understood she died on Christmas Day, with a funeral service set to be held at St Peter’s Church, Scarborough, on February 17, followed by a private burial.
Father Eddie Gubbins, from St Peter's, told The Sun she had been living in nearby care homes for a number of years, where he visited her to give holy communion as she was too frail to attend church in person.
"She was a very strong lady and had a beautiful voice," he said, and added: "She had a very peaceful death in the end. She was a beautiful lady and very gracious."