2
Born · July 7, 1911
Died · July 11, 2005 (94 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Covent Garden, London, England, UK
Born in Covent Garden, West London in 1911, Gretchen Franklin was an English actress and dancer whose showbusiness career spanned over 70 years. She was best known for her role as Ethel Skinner in the long-running BBC 1 soap opera EastEnders. She appeared in the very first episode in 1985 and was a regular in the series until 1988. After this she returned to the show intermittently until 2000 when her character was killed off, allowing Franklin to retire from acting at the age of 89. Born into a theatrical family (her father had a song and dance act, her grandfather was a famous music hall entertainer at the turn of the century and her cousin was Dad's Army star Clive Dunn) Gretchen Franklin made her theatre debut as a teenage chorus girl. She toured with comedians such as Gracie Fields before making the switch to serious acting. Her film appearances included Cloak Without Dagger (1956), Flame in the Streets (1961), The Murder Game (1965), Help! (1965), How I Won The War (1967), Twisted Nerve (1968), The Night Visitor (1971), The Three Musketeers (1973), Quincy's Quest (1979), and Ragtime (1981), among others. She is namechecked in The Fall's 1990 song Telephone Thing.
Daddy's Fiance · (1 episode)
7.6
1990
(669 episodes)
4.1
1985
Ethel Skinner · (570 episodes)
4.1
1985
Woman on Train
6.7
1984
Cordelia · (1 episode)
8.0
1983
(7 episodes)
0.0
1982
Elderly Woman
7.0
1981
Cath · (1 episode)
6.2
1979
Edna · (2 episodes)
5.8
1979
Mrs. Flack · (1 episode)
8.0
1979
Phyllis's Dresser
0.0
1978
(1 episode)
5.3
1978
Miss Knag · (1 episode)
5.5
1977
Mother · (1 episode)
6.8
1976
Auntie Lil · (7 episodes)
7.0
1975
Florence, the Charlady · (1 episode)
7.7
1975
D'Artagnan's Mother (archive footage) (uncredited)
6.4
1974
Aunt Maud · (1 episode)
7.4
1974
D’Artagnan’s Mother
6.8
1973
Mrs. Pitt
6.0
1973
(1 episode)
6.0
1973
(13 episodes)
5.0
1973
Mrs Bowler · (13 episodes)
6.0
1973
(1 episode)
7.6
1973
Nelly Baxter · (1 episode)
5.6
1972
Bookstall Assistant · (1 episode)
6.4
1972
Carrie Wetherall · (1 episode)
7.0
1971
Mrs. Hansen
6.3
1971
Tea Lady
0.0
1970
(100 episodes)
0.0
1969
Clarkie
6.8
1968
Bus Conductress
4.7
1968
2nd Old Lady
5.5
1967
Landlady
0.0
1965
(1 episode)
6.0
1965
Neighbour
6.9
1965
Martha Bray · (1 episode)
6.8
1965
Mrs. Elgin
4.7
1963
Rose Jenkins · (1 episode)
6.7
1962
(1 episode)
7.0
1962
Mrs. Chard
0.0
1961
Mrs. Bingham
5.8
1961
(6 episodes)
0.0
1959
Mother (uncredited)
6.2
1957
Mrs. Webb
6.0
1956
Elsie
4.6
1955
Mrs. Marriot
0.0
Mrs. Higginbottom
5.2
1961
Emmie
7.3
1956
Mrs. Walcott · (1 episode)
5.3
1955
Martha (uncredited)
7.0
1949