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EastEnders actress Elizabeth Kelly has died at the age of 104 after a 40-year television career.
The soap star was best known for playing Nellie Ellis, the busybody relative of Pauline Fowler, in EastEnders from 1993 until 2000.
Elizabeth passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 104, making her a centenarian, and her funeral will take place at St Peter’s Church in Scarborough on February 17.
She is survived by her daughter and son, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth retired from acting back in 2007 after her last role in The Royal and reportedly spent her final years with her family in North Yorkshire – before moving into various care homes.
The priest at St Peter’s Church, Father Eddie Gubbins, said to The Sun of Elizabeth: ‘She was a very strong lady and had a beautiful voice.’
He added: ‘She had a very peaceful death in the end. She was a beautiful lady and very gracious.’
Father Gubbins went on to say that Elizabeth was ‘too frail’ to come to church towards the end so he visited her at her care home in early December.
Elizabeth starred as Nellie in EastEnders for 138 episodes, and was seen frequently sparring with Pauline’s husband Arthur Fowler or moving her things into their home.
But Elizabeth’s career actually kicked off at the age of 50 in 1971 when she landed her first major TV role as Edie Burgess in an episode of Coronation Street.
Born Elizabeth Trower in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1921, Kelly quickly became a familiar face in the world of British soaps as she also appeared in episodes of Heartbeat, Grange Hill, Home and Away, Emmerdale and The Bill.
She also appeared a cult indie film alongside Steve Coogan, called 24 Hour Party People.
Since the news of her death, tributes have poured in on social media.
People wrote: ‘What a career, RIP,’; ‘RIP Elizabeth Kelly. Best known for playing Nellie Ellis in Eastenders during the 1990s 104. Such a great age,’;
‘RIP Aunty Nellie,’; ‘So sad.’
