About
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...
Known for
EastEndersSeries • 1985
Z-CarsSeries • 1962
BlackadderSeries • 1983
The SweeneySeries • 1975
Keeping Up AppearancesSeries • 1990
SykesSeries • 1972
The ProtectorsSeries • 1972
Dixon of Dock GreenSeries • 1955
Churchill's PeopleSeries • 1974
Gideon's WaySeries • 1965
Terry and JuneSeries • 1979
Steptoe and SonSeries • 1962
BudgieSeries • 1971
The Famous FiveSeries • 1978
Rising DampSeries • 1974
George and MildredSeries • 1976
The Three MusketeersMovie • 1973
Help!Movie • 1965
The Four MusketeersMovie • 1974
RagtimeMovie • 1981
Twisted NerveMovie • 1968
The Night VisitorMovie • 1971
How I Won the WarMovie • 1967
Return to WaterlooMovie • 1984