Gretchen Franklin
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
EastEnders
1985
Series
EastEnders
Ethel Skinner
1985
Series
Z-Cars
1962
Series
Keeping Up Appearances
Daddy's Fiance
1990
Series
The Sweeney
Florence, the Charlady
1975
Series
Blackadder
Cordelia
1983
Series
Sykes
Bookstall Assistant
1972
Series
Dixon of Dock Green
Mrs. Walcott
1955
Series
The Protectors
Nelly Baxter
1972
Series
Gideon's Way
Martha Bray
1965
Series
Terry and June
Cath
1979
Series
Churchill's People
Mrs Baxter
1974
Story Parade
Mrs. Huxtable
1964
Series
Budgie
Carrie Wetherall
1971
Series
Steptoe and Son
Aunt Daphne
1962
Film
The Three Musketeers
D’Artagnan’s Mother
1973
Series
Danger UXB
Mrs. Flack
1979
Series
The Famous Five
Mrs Janes
1978
Series
Journey to the Unknown
Mrs. Barrett
1968
Series
Bleak House
Mrs Guppy
1959
Series
Rising Damp
Aunt Maud
1974
Series
Hazell
Pearl
1978
Series
The Scales of Justice
Rose Jenkins
1962
Series
The Protectors
Mrs Bolland
1964
Series
George and Mildred
Mother
1976
Series
Londoners
Mrs. Hincastle
1965
Film
The Four Musketeers
D'Artagnan's Mother (archive footage) (uncredited)
1974
Series
Nicholas Nickleby
Miss Knag
1977
Saturday Playhouse
Susan Sillsby
1958
Saturday Playhouse
Mrs. Wilson
1958
Saturday Playhouse
Mrs. Catt
1958
Black and Blue
Mrs. Pitt
1973
Series
Six Days of Justice
Annie
1972
Series
I Didn't Know You Cared
Auntie Lil
1975
Castle Haven
1969
Series
Quatermass
Edna
1979
Series
Armchair Theatre
Miss Julia
1956
Series
Armchair Theatre
Mrs. Chard
1956
Series
Armchair Theatre
Else
1956
Series
Armchair Theatre
Edie Tidy
1956
Series
Armchair Theatre
Mrs. Marriott
1956
Series
Armchair Theatre
Tea Lady
1956
Film
Ragtime
Elderly Woman
1981
The Four Seasons of Rosie Carr
Amy Bennett
1964
Film
Help!
Neighbour (uncredited)
1965
Film
How I Won the War
2nd Old Lady
1967
Film
Twisted Nerve
Clarkie
1968
A Slight Case Of...
1965
Series
Bowler
Mrs Bowler
1973
Series
The Organization
Edna
1972
Bowler
1973
Film
The Night Visitor
Mrs. Hansen
1971
Film
Subterfuge
Bus Conductress
1968
Film
The Secret Place
Mother (uncredited)
1957
Film
The One and Only Phyllis Dixey
Phyllis's Dresser
1978
Film
Trottie True
Martha (uncredited)
1949
Film
Flame in the Streets
Mrs. Bingham
1961
Raise Your Glasses
1962
The Artful Dodger
1959
Film
Cloak Without Dagger
Emmie
1956
Film
The Trouble with Our Ivy
Mrs. Chard
1961
Dead Ernest
1982
The Man Who Came to Die
Mrs. Marriott
1965
Film
Return to Waterloo
Woman on Train
1984
Film
Quincy's Quest
Witch
1979
Film
The Silent Playground
Mrs. Elgin
1963
Film
The High Terrace
Mrs. Webb
1956
Film
Before I Wake
Elsie
1955
Film
The Murder Game
Landlady
1965
Film
Secrets
Mrs. Pitt
1973
The Poet
Erminia
1960
Film
Ticket to Paradise
Mrs. Higginbottom
1961
The Company Man
Tea Lady
1970