EastEnders’ Nellie Ellis actor Elizabeth Kelly dies at the age of 104

Elizabeth Kelly, a prolific soap actor who appeared in EastEnders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale during a decades-spanning career, has died at the age of 104.

Kelly played Pauline Fowler’s busybody relative between 1993 and 1998, featuring in storylines that saw her character both help and hinder Albert Square’s Fowler family.

After exiting the soap, Kelly briefly returned in 2000 for the funeral of Dot Cotton’s best friend, Ethel Skinner.

Kelly died peacefully on 31 December 2025, her agent at Scott Marshall Partners said in a statement.

“We are sad to announce that much-loved character actress Elizabeth Kelly has died. She was 104,” it read. “She died peacefully of old age in Scarborough on December 31, 2025.

“Elizabeth enjoyed an illustrious career spanning many decades but is probably best known as Auntie Nellie in EastEnders. Her family have asked for privacy at this time.”

EastEnders has paid tribute to the actor. A statement from the soap said: “Elizabeth Kelly created a wonderful character in Nellie Ellis, and it is with great sadness that we learn of her passing.

“Those that worked with Elizabeth at EastEnders will remember her fondly for her warmth and kindness, and our love and thoughts are with Elizabeth’s family and friends.”

Kelly is understood to have died in a care home. Father Eddie Gubbins told The Sun he often visited the star to give holy communion as she was “too frail” to go to church. He said: “She had a very peaceful death in the end. She was a beautiful lady and very gracious.”

He added that he last saw Kelly in early December during a visit to her care home.

Kelly was born in Newcastle in 1921, with one of her first acting roles arriving in the form of two 1971 episodes of Coronation Street. She also popped up in Grange Hill, Heartbeat and The Bill before making her Albert Square debut.

After leaving E20 behind, she joined Emmerdale – playing Edith Weatherall, who briefly lived with village favourites Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) and Tricia Stokes (Sheree Murphy).

Kelly’s final role was in ITV’s Sixties-set The Royal in 2007, after which she retired from acting and reportedly returned to North Yorkshire to spend time with her family.