Elsie Kelly
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7 June 1936
Elsie Kelly | |
|---|---|
| Born | Elsie Norma Kelly 7 June 1936 Dovecot, Liverpool, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 21 April 2026 (aged 89) Birkenhead, Merseyside, England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1974–2024 |
| Spouse |
Gordon Hall
(m. 1967; died 2023) |
| Children | 2 |
Elsie Norma Hall (née Kelly; 7 June 1936 – 21 April 2026) was an English actress. With a career spanning five decades, she appeared in various television shows including Crossroads, The Famous Five and Harry and the Wrinklies, before taking on the role of Noreen Maltby on the ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2012, 2015–2018).
Elsie Norma Kelly was born on 7 June 1936 in Dovecot, Liverpool, Lancashire, England.[1] She became Director of the Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust in 1974,[2][3] Throughout her time with the company, she directed various productions in the Liverpool Empire,[4] Liverpool Royal Court, the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton and the Gladstone Theatre Port Sunlight.[5] Productions include Annie, 42nd Street, Oliver, The Sound of Music, The Full Monty, Hello Dolly, Crazy for you, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and Jekyll and Hyde.[2][4] Kelly announced her retirement from the company in 2019.[3][5]
In 1979, Kelly made her television debut appearing in the ITV soap opera Crossroads, in which she portrayed cleaner and gossip Mrs Tardebigge, a role which she played until the soap's cancellation in 1988. Kelly also appeared in an episode of Bread.[4]
Following a gap from television work, Kelly appeared in the film Intimate Relations in 1996 and then returned to television to play Joan, the cook in the television adaptation of The Famous Five for a number of episodes between 1995 and 1997. This was followed by her portrayal of Mrs Humphries in The Ghost Hunter in 2000 and Florrie in Harry and the Wrinklies.[6]
In 2007, Kelly joined the cast of the first series of the ITV comedy series Benidorm, playing the character of Noreen Maltby; she was a regular in series 1 to 5 and 7 to 10.[7][8] In series 10, Kelly also played Noreen's identical twin sister Doreen in a dual role.[9]
She also appeared as Mrs. Hargreaves in Coronation Street for 2 episodes in 2011, and appeared in an episode of Skins.[2]
Kelly made an appearance in "Nana's Party", the fifth episode of the second series of the British anthology series Inside No. 9 as the role of Maggie.[10]
Kelly died following a short illness on 21 April 2026, aged 89.[11][12] Several tributes were paid to her, including from Benidorm writer Derren Litten who described her as "one of the best loved characters in the show and certainly one of the most beloved cast members" adding that her "acting abilities and comic genius were so natural they were almost taken for granted."[13]