Gretchen Franklin
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.
Acted in
Keeping Up Appearances
1990
as Daddy's Fiance
EastEnders
1985
EastEnders
1985
as Ethel Skinner
Return to Waterloo
1984
as Woman on Train
Blackadder
1983
as Cordelia
Dead Ernest
1982
Ragtime
1981
as Elderly Woman
Quatermass
1979
as Edna
Terry and June
1979
as Cath
Danger UXB
1979
as Mrs. Flack
The One and Only Phyllis Dixey
1978
as Phyllis's Dresser
Hazell
1978
Nicholas Nickleby
1977
as Miss Knag
George and Mildred
1976
as Mother
I Didn't Know You Cared
1975
as Auntie Lil
The Sweeney
1975
as Florence, the Charlady
The Four Musketeers
1974
as D'Artagnan's Mother (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rising Damp
1974
as Aunt Maud
The Three Musketeers
1973
as D’Artagnan’s Mother
Secrets
1973
as Mrs. Pitt
Black and Blue
1973
Bowler
1973
Bowler
1973
as Mrs Bowler
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
1973
The Protectors
1972
as Nelly Baxter
Sykes
1972
as Bookstall Assistant
Budgie
1971
The Night Visitor
1971
as Mrs. Hansen
The Company Man
1970
as Tea Lady
Castle Haven
1969
Twisted Nerve
1968
as Clarkie
Subterfuge
1968
as Bus Conductress
How I Won the War
1967
as 2nd Old Lady
The Murder Game
1965
as Landlady
A Slight Case Of...
1965
Help!
1965
as Neighbour
Gideon's Way
1965
as Martha Bray
The Silent Playground
1963
as Mrs. Elgin
The Scales of Justice
1962
as Rose Jenkins
Z-Cars
1962
The Trouble with Our Ivy
1961
as Mrs. Chard
Flame in the Streets
1961
as Mrs. Bingham
Ticket to Paradise
1961
as Mrs. Higginbottom
The Artful Dodger
1959
The Secret Place
1957
as Mother (uncredited)
High Terrace
1956
as Mrs. Webb
Cloak Without Dagger
1956
as Emmie
Dixon of Dock Green
1955
as Mrs. Walcott
Before I Wake
1955
as Elsie
Trottie True
1949
as Martha (uncredited)
The Man Who Came to Die
as Mrs. Marriot