Ellen Thomas (actress)

Ellen Thomas
Thomas in 2016
Born (1964-02-03) 3 February 1964 (age 60)
Sierra Leone
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
Known forTeachers
EastEnders
Mount Pleasant

Ellen Thomas (born 3 February 1964)[1] is a Sierra Leonean-British actress, known for her roles as Liz Webbe in the Channel 4 sitcom Teachers and Claudette Hubbard in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She is also known for her recent voice role in the Netflix animated show Arcane as Noxian warlord, Ambessa Medarda.

Career

In Teachers, Thomas played Liz Webbe, a school secretary, and appeared in all four series, from 2001 to 2004. She was a regular cast member in BBC Radio 4's Clare in the Community and in BBC Three's Coming of Age, in which she portrayed the principal. For her role in Rev, she was nominated for "Best TV Comedy Performance" at the Black International Film Festival and Music Video & Screen Awards.[2] In 2010, she had a minor role in Come Fly with Me, as Mrs Mbutu.[3]

Thomas is known for the number of characters she has portrayed in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. She initially played Pearl Chadwick in 1990, Estella Hulton in 2002, Grace Olubunmi from 2010 to 2011, and most notably Claudette Hubbard from 2015 to 2016.[4][5][6] From 2018 to 2019, Thomas appeared in the medical drama by the BBC Casualty, in the recurring role of Omo Masters.[7] In 2020, she appeared in an episode of Death in Paradise.[8] In 2021 she appeared in the first season of Netflix's Arcane,[9] voicing Ambessa Medarda and reprised the role for season 2 in 2024. In 2023, she appeared in The Madame Blanc Mysteries.[10] In 2024, she appeared in two episodes of the BBC crime drama Silent Witness.[11]

Filmography

Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
1980 The Gentle Touch Laura Series 5, Episode 4
1981 Sunday Night Thriller Assistant 1 episode
1982 O.T.T. Herself, various 12 episodes
1983 Don't Wait Up Receptionist Series 1, Episode 5
1984 Shroud for a Nightingale Staff Nurse 3 episodes
1987 The Lenny Henry Show Rose Series 1, Episode 1–6
1988 French and Saunders Various characters Christmas special
The Lenny Henry Show Rose Series 2, Episode 1–6
1989 CBS Summer Playhouse Mrs. Holmes Series 3, Episode 10 "Outpost"
1990 Hallelujah Anyhow Unnamed Character
EastEnders Pearl Chadwick Recurring role
1991 Grange Hill Pregnancy Advisor Series 14, Episode 14
1993 Screenplay Aunt Mafe 1 episode
1994–1996 Cardiac Arrest Sister Jackie Landers 14 episodes
1994 The Bill Iris Davareux "Lesson to Be Learned"
Home Away from Home Miriam
1995 London Bridge Diane Symmons Series 2, Episode 1–2
1996 The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Laurette Akande 3 episodes
1997 Holding On Florrie Series 1 Episode 1–8
Kavanagh QC Chief Usher Series 3, Episode 1 "Mute of Malice"
1998 Ultraviolet Maria Series 1, Episode 5 "Terra Incognita"
2000 The Bill Mrs. Okin "White Lies"
In Defence Mrs. Hope Series 1, Episode 1
Where There's Smoke Counsellor Edwards
Never Never Brenda Short drama
2001–2004 Teachers Liz Webb Series 1–4 (39 episodes)
2002 Doctors Mrs. Foster 1 episode
The Bill Aisha Danvers
Holby City Marcia Lyme 1 episode
The Jury Ruby Thomas Series 1, Episode 1–4
EastEnders Estella Hulton
2003 Strange Mrs. Andoh Series 1, Episode 2 "Kaa-Jinn"
Lenny Henry in Pieces Unnamed Character Series 2, Episode 2
Good Food Live Herself 1 episode
2005 Casualty Stephanie Mellor Episode: "Aftermath"
William and Mary Mrs. Morris Series 3, Episode 2
2006 Doctor Who Clockwork Woman Series 2, Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"
Little Miss Jocelyn Unnamed Character Series 1, Episode 1 and 3
Trial & Retribution Judge Joyce Addo "Sins Of The Father"
Doctors Marie Crossley Series 7, Episode 140 "Ashes to Ashes"
The Play's the Thing Herself Series 1, Episode 2
2007 Outnumbered Jehovah's Witness Series 1, Episode 4
One of Us? Mum Short film
2008 Coming of Age The Principal All episodes since series 1, episode 3
New Tricks Cora Trimble Series 5, Episode 8 "Mad Dogs"
2009 Off the Hook Angela Series 1, Episode 1
Doctor Who Carmen Easter 2009 special; "Planet of the Dead"
Moses Jones Libby Jones Series 1, Episodes 2 and 3
2010–2011 EastEnders Grace Olubunmi Recurring role
2010 Rev. Adoha Onyeka All 6 episodes
2011 Come Fly with Me Mrs. Mbutu Episode 2
EastEnders: E20 Grace Olubunmi
2012 Doctors Mrs Francelle Ndebele "Paradise Lost"
Casualty Florence Asike 2 episodes
2015–2016 EastEnders Claudette Hubbard Regular role
2015 Humans Lindsey Kiwanuka Episode 1–2
2015–2017 Mount Pleasant Nana Miller Regular role
2016 New Blood Joan Philips Episode 1
2018–2019 Casualty Omo Masters Recurring role
2018–2019 In the Long Run Mama 5 episodes (voice role), 2 episodes
2018 Midsomer Murders Ruth Crane 1 episode
The Queen and I Philomena Troussaint Television film
2019 Doctors Liz Maberry 1 episode
Dark Money Maggie Mensah Main role
2020 Death in Paradise Georgine Perault Series 9, Episode 7
2021–2024 Arcane Ambessa Medarda Voice, 5 episodes
2022 A Birthday Party Aunty Fatou Short film
Say Nothing Ms Araali Mabele Short film
Murder, They Hope Nanny Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Scream"
A Birthday Party Aunty Fatou Short film
2023 Such A Lovely Day Claude Short film
2024 The Madame Blanc Mysteries Reme Benson Episode: "Kidnap"
Silent Witness Esther Daniels 2 episodes
TBA Finding Forever
Sources: [12][13]
Film roles
Year Title Role
2001 South West 9 Mrs. Ashware
Buried Treasure Martha
2002 Jeffrey Archer: The Truth First Judge
2006 Basic Instinct 2 Prosecutor
Losing It Paula
Breaking and Entering Judge
2008 Clubbed Mrs. Smith
2010 The Future Wags of Great Britain Auntie Deborah
The Santa Trap Tooth Fairy
2011 Johnny English Reborn Colin Tucker's mother
2016 Golden Years Thelma
2022 Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris Vi Butterfield
The Pay Day Ms Boomer
Sources: [14][15]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Result Ref.
2016 The British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Nominated [16]
2016 Inside Soap Awards Best Bad Girl Longlisted [17]

References

  1. ^ "BBC Three Counties Radio - Edward Adoo, Doorstep befriending, tackling domestic violence, and Big Guest Ellen Thomas, Ed's Big Guest: Ellen Thomas". BBC. 7 March 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  2. ^ Review, Alt A. (12 January 2023). "Talking to Ellen Thomas on stage in The Wife of Willesden as play is set for Broadway - Alt A Review". alt-africa.com. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  3. ^ "EastEnders up for four MVSAs". EastEnders. BBC Blogs. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  4. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (3 October 2016). "Revealed! Here's how Claudette leaves EastEnders". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  5. ^ "EastEnders casts new character played by Ellen Thomas". HELLO. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Actress, Ellen Thomas to host 2011 GUBA Awards". GhanaWeb. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  7. ^ "English actress Ellen Thomas, Kadi out and about in Sierra Leone". Swit Salone. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  8. ^ Griffiths, Eleanor Bley (27 February 2020). "Meet the cast of Death in Paradise series 9". Radio Times. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  9. ^ https://thedirect.com/article/arcane-season-2-cast-characters-voice-actors-guide-photos-ella-purnell-hailee-steinfeld
  10. ^ updated, Martin ShoreContributions from Steven Perkins last (23 May 2023). "The Madame Blanc Mysteries season 3: how to watch, cast, episode guide and all you need to know". What to Watch. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  11. ^ Cremona, Patrick (12 February 2024). "Silent Witness season 27 cast: Meet the characters". Radio Times. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Ellen Thomas". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Ellen Thomas". TV Time. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  14. ^ "Ellen Thomas". Plex.tv. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  15. ^ "Ellen Thomas | Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  16. ^ "British Soap Awards 2016 full winners list: Did your favourites take home prizes?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  17. ^ Sandwell, Ian (21 June 2016). "Inside Soap Awards 2016 longlist revealed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
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