Ellen Thomas (actress)
Ellen Thomas | |
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![]() Thomas in 2016 | |
Born |
Ellen Thomas 3 February 1964 |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1980 – present |
Ellen Thomas (born 3 February 1964) is a British actress originally from Sierra Leone who has had many television and film roles, but is perhaps best known for her recurring role in the Channel 4 Bristol-based comedy, Teachers[1] or as Grace Olubunmi and Claudette Hubbard in EastEnders.
Career
In Teachers, Thomas played Liz Webbe – a school secretary – and was one of the few characters who appeared in all four series, from 2001 to 2004.[1] She is a regular cast member in BBC Radio 4's Clare in the Community and in BBC Three's Coming of Age, in which she plays the Principal.[2] She has also guest-starred in Doctor Who.[3] Casualty,[4] Holby City,[5] William and Mary[6] and The Bill (twice),[7] as well as playing small film roles in Basic Instinct 2,[8] South West 9,[9] Wonderland[10] and The Secret Laughter of Women.[11] For her role in Rev., she was nominated for "Best TV Comedy Performance" at the Black International Film Festival and Music Video & Screen Awards.[12]
Thomas is perhaps best known for the number of characters she has portrayed in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders. She played Pearl Chadwick in 1990, Estella Hulton in 2002, Grace Olubunmi from 2010–11 and is currently playing Claudette Hubbard since 2015. On Thomas' casting of Claudette, current executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins commented, "Ellen Thomas belongs on EastEnders. Albert Square now has a new steely matriarch – with a few twisted secrets hidden behind her beaming smile".
Television
Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | The Gentle Touch[13] | Laura | ITV1 | Series 5, Episode 4 |
1981 | Sunday Night Thriller[14] | Assistant | Unknown | "Dark Secret: Part 2" Series 1, Episode 2 |
1983 | Don't Wait Up[15] | Staff Nurse | BBC One | Series 1, Episode 5 |
1984 | Shroud for a Nightingale[16] | Staff Nurse | ITV1 | Series 1, Episode 1–3 |
1987 | The Lenny Henry Show[17] | Rose | BBC One | Series 1, Episode 1–6 |
1988 | French and Saunders[18] | Various characters | BBC One | Christmas Special |
The Lenny Henry Show[19] | Rose | BBC One | Series 2, Episode 1–6 | |
1989 | CBS Summer Playhouse[20] | Mrs. Holmes | CBS | Series 3, Episode 10 "Outpost" |
1990 | Hallelujah Anyhow[21] | Unnamed Character | Unknown | |
EastEnders | Pearl Chadwick | BBC One | November – December 1990 | |
1991 | Grange Hill[22] | Pregnancy Advisor | BBC One | Series 14, Episode 14 |
1993 | Screenplay[23] | Aunt Mafe | Unknown | Series 8, Episode 5 "Not Even God Is Wise Enough" |
1994 | The Bill[24] | Iris Davareux | ITV1 | "Lesson to Be Learned" |
Home Away from Home[25] | Miriam | Unknown | ||
1995 | London Bridge[26] | Diane Symmons | Unknown | Series 2, Episode 1–2 |
1996 | Cardiac Arrest[27] | Sister Jackie Landers | BBC One | "Trench Warfare" |
Ruth Rendell Mysteries[28] | Laurette Akande | ITV1 | Series 9, Episode 3–5 "Simisola" | |
1997 | Holding On[29] | Florrie | BBC One | Series 1 Episode 1–8 |
Kavanagh QC[30] | Chief Usher | ITV1 | Series 3, Episode 1 "Mute of Malice" | |
1998 | Ultraviolet[31] | Maria | Channel 4 | Series 1, Episode 5 "Terra Incognita" |
2000 | The Bill[32] | Mrs. Okin | ITV1 | "White Lies" |
In Defence[33] | Mrs. Hope | Unknown | Series 1, Episode 1 | |
Where There's Smoke[34] | Counsellor Edwards | Unknown | ||
Never Never[35] | Brenda | Channel 4 | Short drama | |
2001–04 | Teachers[1] | Liz Webb | Channel 4 | Series 1–4 (39 episodes) |
2002 | Doctors[36] | Mrs. Foster | BBC One | Series 5, Episode 44 "Nobody's Child" |
The Bill[37] | Aisha Danvers | ITV1 | ||
Holby City[38] | Marcia Lyme | BBC One | Series 4, Episode 38 "Love and Devotion" | |
The Jury[39] | Ruby Thomas | ITV1 | Series 1, Episode 1–4 | |
EastEnders | Estella Hulton | BBC One | ||
2003 | Strange[40] | Mrs. Andoh | BBC One | Series 1, Episode 2 "Kaa-Jinn" |
Lenny Henry in Pieces[41] | Unnamed Character | BBC One | Series 2, Episode 2 | |
Good Food Live[42] | Herself | UKTVFood | Episode dated 4 November 2003 | |
2005 | Casualty[43] | Stephanie Mellor | BBC One | Series 19 Episode 45 "Aftermath" |
William and Mary[6] | Mrs. Morris | ITV1 | Series 3, Episode 2 | |
2006 | Doctor Who[44] | Clockwork Woman | BBC One | Series 2, Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace" |
Little Miss Jocelyn[45] | Unnamed Character | BBC Three | Series 1, Episode 1 and 3 | |
Trial & Retribution[46] | Judge Joyce Addo | ITV1 | "Sins Of The Father" | |
Doctors[47] | Marie Crossley | BBC One and BBC HD | Series 7, Episode 140 "Ashes to Ashes" | |
The Marchioness Disaster[48] | Linda Hunt | Unknown | ||
"The Play's the Thing"[49] | Herself | Unknown | Series 1, Episode 2 | |
2007 | Outnumbered[50] | Jehovah's Witness | BBC One | Series 1, Episode 4 |
"One of Us?"[51] | Mum | Unknown | Short Drama. | |
2008 | Coming of Age[52] | The Principal | BBC Three | All episodes since series 1, episode 3 |
New Tricks[53] | Cora Trimble | BBC One | Series 5, Episode 8 "Mad Dogs" | |
2009 | Off the Hook[54] | Angela | BBC Three and BBC HD | Series 1, Episode 1 |
Doctor Who[55] | Carmen | BBC One and BBC HD | Doctor Who Easter Special "Planet of the Dead" | |
Moses Jones[56] | Libby Jones | BBC Two | Series 1, Episodes 2 and 3 | |
2010–11 | EastEnders[57] | Grace Olubunmi | BBC One | Recurring role |
2010 | Rev. | Adoha Onyeka | BBC Two | All 6 episodes |
2011 | Come Fly with Me | Mrs. Mbutu | BBC One | Episode 2 |
EastEnders: E20 | Grace Olubunmi | BBC Online | ||
2012 | Doctors | Mrs Francelle Ndebele | BBC One and BBC HD | "Paradise Lost" |
Casualty | Florence Asike | BBC One | "All in a Day's Nightmare – Part 1" "#HolbyRiot Part 1" | |
2015–16 | EastEnders[58] | Claudette Hubbard | BBC One | Regular role |
2015 | Humans | Lindsey Kiwanuka | Channel 4 | Episode 1–2 |
2015– | Mount Pleasant | Nana Miller | Sky 1 | Regular role |
2016 | New Blood | Joan Philips | BBC One | Episode 1 |
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | South West 9 [59] | Mrs. Ashware | Directed by Richard Parry |
Buried Treasure (2001)[60] | Martha | Directed by Adrian Shergold | |
2002 | Jeffrey Archer: The Truth[61] | First Judge | Directed by Guy Jenkin |
2006 | Basic Instinct 2[8] | Prosecutor | Directed by Michael Caton-Jones |
Losing It [62] | Paula | Directed by Ben Bolt | |
Breaking and Entering[63] | Judge | Directed by Anthony Minghella | |
2008 | Clubbed[64] | Mrs. Smith | Directed by Neil Thompson |
2010 | The Future Wags of Great Britain[65] | Auntie Deborah | Directed by Destiny Ekaragha |
The Santa Trap[66] | Tooth Fairy | Directed by Victoria Thomas | |
2011 | Johnny English Reborn | Colin Tucker's mother | Directed by Oliver Parker |
2016 | Golden Years | Directed by John Miller |
References
- 1 2 3 "Teachers (2001)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Coming of Age (2010)". Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ↑ "Doctor Who (2009)". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ↑ "Casualty (2005)". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ↑ "Holby City (2002)". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- 1 2 "William and Mary (2005)". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Bill (2002)". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- 1 2 "Basic Instinct 2 (2006)". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ↑ "South West 9 (2001)". Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ↑ "Wonderland (1999 film)". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Secret Laughter of Women (1999 film)". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
- ↑ "EastEnders up for four MVSAs". EastEnders. BBC Online. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
- ↑ "The Gentle Touch (1980)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Sunday Night Thriller (1981)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Don't Wait Up (1983)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Shroud for a Nightingale (1984)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Lenny Henry Show (1987)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "French and Saunders (1988)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Lenny Henry Show (1988)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "CBS Summer Playhouse (1989)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Hallelujah Anyhow (1990)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Grange Hill (1991)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Screenplay (1993)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Bill (1994)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Home Away from Home (1994)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "London Bridge (1995)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Cardiac Arrest (1996)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "CardiacArrest (1996)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Holding On (1997)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Kavanagh QC (1997)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Ultraviolet(1998)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Bill (2000)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "In Defence (2000)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Where There's Smoke (2000)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Never Never(2000)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Doctors (2002)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Bill (2002)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Holby City (2002)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Jury (2002)". Retrieved 12 February 2010.
- ↑ "Strange (2003)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Lenny Henry in Pieces (2003)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Good Food Live (2003)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ ""Casualty" Aftermath (2005)". Retrieved 12 December 2009.
- ↑ "Doctor Who The Girl in the Fireplace (2006)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Little Miss Jocelyn (2006)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Trial & Retribution (2006)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Doctors (2006)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Marchioness Disaster (2006)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Play's the Thing (2006)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Outnumbered (2007)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "One of Us? (2007)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Coming of Age (2008)". Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ↑ "New Tricks (2008)". Retrieved 10 January 2010.
- ↑ "Off the Hook (2009)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Doctor Who Easter Special (2009)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ "Moses Jones (2009)". Retrieved 11 February 2010.
- ↑ Green, Kris (11 May 2010). "Exclusive: Bryan Kirkwood (Executive Producer, 'EastEnders')". Digital Spy. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- ↑ "EastEnders: Ellen Thomas cast as new Albert Square matriarch". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
- ↑ "South West 9 (2001)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Buried Treasure (2001)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Jeffrey Archer: The Truth (2002)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Losing It (2006)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Breaking and Entering (2006)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "Clubbed (2008)". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
- ↑ "The Future Wags of Great Britain (2010)". Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ↑ "The Santa Trap (2010)". Retrieved 23 June 2010.
External links
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