| Elsie Kelly | |
| Birth Date: | 1936 6, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Dovecot, Liverpool, Lancashire, England |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Years Active: | 1974–present |
| Known For: | Crossroads The Famous Five Harry and the Wrinklies Benidorm |
Elsie Kelly (born 7 June 1936) is an English actress. With a career spanning five decades, she has appeared in various television shows including Crossroads, The Famous Five and Harry and the Wrinklies, before taking on her best known role of Noreen Maltby in the ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2012, 2015–2018).
Kelly became Director of the Birkenhead Operatic Society Trust in 1974,[1] Throughout her time with the company, she directed various productions in the Liverpool Empire, Liverpool Royal Court, the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton and the Gladstone Theatre Port Sunlight.[2] 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. Kelly announced her retirement from the company in 2019.[1] [2]
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.[3]
Following a gap from television work, she 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.[4]
In 2006, Kelly joined the cast of the first series of the ITV comedy series Benidorm, playing the character of Noreen Maltby.[5] [6] In series 10, Kelly also played Noreen's identical twin sister Doreen in a dual role.[7]
Kelly has also appeared as Mrs. Hargreaves in Coronation Street for 2 episodes in 2011, and has appeared in an episode of Skins.[8]