| Elizabeth Kelly | |
| Birth Name: | Elizabeth Hutton Kelly |
| Birth Date: | 1921 5, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England |
| Death Place: | Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Years Active: | 1967–2007 |
| Known For: | EastEnders |
| Children: | 2 |
Elizabeth Hutton Trower (; 29 May 1921 – 31 December 2025) was an English actress. With a career spanning 40 years in television and film, she was known for portraying Nellie Ellis in the BBC soap opera EastEnders between 1993 and 1998, and again for a one-off appearance in 2000.
Elizabeth Hutton Kelly was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, on 29 May 1921, the daughter of Elizabeth (née Tulip) and Albert Kelly.[1] [2]
Kelly began her acting career in the late 1960s.[3] [4] She played Edie Burgess in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1971 and went on to portray various roles in several televised drama series including The Bill, Boon, Spender, and Where the Heart Is, as well as the television film Cider with Rosie among others.[5]
In 1993, Kelly joined the cast of the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Nellie Ellis, the interfering relative of Pauline Fowler, portraying the role until 1998, before returning briefly in 2000 for the funeral of Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin).[6] After leaving EastEnders, Kelly appeared in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as Edith Weatherall in 2002, as well as appearing in episodes of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Steel River Blues and Heartbeat. Her final acting role was in The Royal in 2007.[7]
In June 1943, she married playwright John Trower.[1] He predeceased her in 1968, aged 55.[8] Together they had two children, a son and a daughter. Kelly had several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.[9]
Kelly celebrated her 100th birthday in May 2021, and died on 31 December 2025 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, aged 104.[10] [11] [12] Her death was announced on 4 February 2026, with her funeral service set to take place at St Peter's Church in Scarborough on 17 February, followed by a private burial.[13] [14]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | The Savage Hunt | Lesly's Mother | ||
| 1988 | Without a Clue | Landlady | ||
| 1993 | The Making of '...And God Spoke' | Julie | ||
| 2002 | 24 Hour Party People | Ian's Gran | ||
| Sources: | ||||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Magical Mystery Tour | Passenger on the Bus | Television film. Uncredited role | |
| 1968 | City '68 | Mrs. Burton | Episode: "In Memoriam" | |
| The War of Darkie Pilbeam | Nurse | Episode: "Phase III: August 1945" | ||
| 1969 | Coronation Street | Spokeswoman | 1 episode | |
| 1970 | A Family at War | Woman in Shelter | Episode: "If It's Got Your Number on It" | |
| The Sinners | Mrs. Whalan | Episode: "Dividends" | ||
| 1971 | Coronation Street | 2 episodes | ||
| A Family at War | Superintendent | Episode: "The Fundamental Things Apply" | ||
| 1972 | Home and Away | Gertie | Episode: "The Cold Wind Doth Blow" | |
| Holly | Mrs. Elliot | 1 episode | ||
| 1973 | Shabby Tiger | Brewer | Episode: "Strawberries and Champagne" | |
| 1977 | When the Boat Comes In | Shopper | Episode: "Letters from Afar" | |
| 1984 | How We Used to Live | Emily Holroyd | 4 episodes: "1902–1926" | |
| Miracles Take Longer | Mrs. Potter | 2 episodes | ||
| 1987 | Grange Hill | Mrs. Hoskins | 1 episode | |
| How We Used to Live | Charlotte Selby | Episode: "1954–1970: Easter Holiday (1958)" | ||
| The Gemini Factor | Woman in Cafe | Episode: "Mirror Image" | ||
| 1988 | American Playhouse | Mary | 3 episodes: "Strange Interlude: Parts 1–3" | |
| The Bill | Mrs. Paynter | Episode: "Getting Stressed" | ||
| 1992 | Motormouth | Mabel Church | 1 episode | |
| Resnick: Lonely Hearts | Olive Peters | 2 episodes | ||
| Covington Cross | Mother Cecilia | Episode: "Outlaws" | ||
| Boon | Lucy Keel | Episode: "Blackballed" | ||
| 1993 | Spender | Elderly Lady | Episode: "Bad Company" | |
| What's Up Doc? | Mrs. Sally Anderson | 1 episode | ||
| The Detectives | Mrs. Connors | Episode: "Go West Old Man" | ||
| 1993–1998, 2000 | EastEnders | Series regular; 138 episodes | ||
| 1995 | That's Showbusiness | Herself - Panellist | 1 episode | |
| 1998 | Heartbeat | Ethel Simcox | Episode: "For Better or Worse" | |
| Cider with Rosie | Miss. Pimbury | Television film | ||
| 1999 | Tilly Trotter | Annie Trotter | Mini-series; 2 episodes | |
| Where the Heart Is | Maggie | Episode: "Not My Brother" | ||
| 2001 | The Bill | Mrs. Predota | Episode: "Greed" | |
| 2002 | Rescue Me | Nan | 4 episodes | |
| The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Mrs. G | Episode: "For the Sake of Elena" | ||
| 2002, 2005 | Emmerdale | Edith Weatherall | Recurring role; 3 episodes | |
| 2004 | Steel River Blues | Mrs. Hodge | Episode: "Bloody Fridays" | |
| Heartbeat | Mrs. Fry | Episode: "Fakers and Frauds" | ||
| 2007 | The Royal | Edith Taylor | Episode: "Can't Buy Me Love" | |
| Sources: | ||||
