Gretchen Franklin
Acting
72
Acting Credits
Biography
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...
Known For
Filmography
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
Quincy's Quest
1979
as Witch
Terry and June
1979
as Cath
Danger UXB
1979
as Mrs. Flack
Quatermass
1979
as Edna
The One and Only Phyllis Dixey
1978
as Phyllis's Dresser
Hazell
1978
as Pearl
The Famous Five
1978
as Mrs Janes
Nicholas Nickleby
1977
as Miss Knag
George and Mildred
1976
as Mother
The Sweeney
1975
as Florence, the Charlady
I Didn't Know You Cared
1975
as Auntie Lil
The Four Musketeers
1974
as D'Artagnan's Mother (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rising Damp
1974
as Aunt Maud
Churchill's People
1974
as Mrs Baxter
Secrets
1973
as Mrs. Pitt
The Three Musketeers
1973
as D’Artagnan’s Mother
Bowler
1973
Bowler
1973
as Mrs Bowler
Black and Blue
1973
as Mrs. Pitt
The Protectors
1972
as Nelly Baxter
Sykes
1972
as Bookstall Assistant
The Organization
1972
as Edna
Six Days of Justice
1972
as Annie
The Night Visitor
1971
as Mrs. Hansen
Budgie
1971
as Carrie Wetherall
The Company Man
1970
as Tea Lady
Castle Haven
1969
Twisted Nerve
1968
as Clarkie
Subterfuge
1968
as Bus Conductress
Journey to the Unknown
1968
as Mrs. Barrett
How I Won the War
1967
as 2nd Old Lady
The Murder Game
1965
as Landlady
Help!
1965
as Neighbour (uncredited)
The Man Who Came to Die
1965
as Mrs. Marriott
Gideon's Way
1965
as Martha Bray
A Slight Case Of...
1965
Londoners
1965
as Mrs. Hincastle
Story Parade
1964
as Mrs. Huxtable
The Protectors
1964
as Mrs Bolland
The Four Seasons of Rosie Carr
1964
as Amy Bennett
The Silent Playground
1963
as Mrs. Elgin
Z-Cars
1962
The Scales of Justice
1962
as Rose Jenkins
Steptoe and Son
1962
as Aunt Daphne
The Trouble with Our Ivy
1961
as Mrs. Chard
Ticket to Paradise
1961
as Mrs. Higginbottom
Flame in the Streets
1961
as Mrs. Bingham
The Poet
1960
as Erminia
The Artful Dodger
1959
Bleak House
1959
as Mrs Guppy
Saturday Playhouse
1958
as Susan Sillsby
Saturday Playhouse
1958
as Mrs. Wilson
Saturday Playhouse
1958
as Mrs. Catt
The Secret Place
1957
as Mother (uncredited)
The High Terrace
1956
as Mrs. Webb
Cloak Without Dagger
1956
as Emmie
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Miss Julia
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Mrs. Chard
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Else
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Edie Tidy
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Mrs. Marriott
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Tea Lady
Before I Wake
1955
as Elsie
Dixon of Dock Green
1955
as Mrs. Walcott
Trottie True
1949
as Martha (uncredited)