Veteran actress Elsie Kelly passes away at 89; tributes pour in

Veteran actress Elsie Kelly, who was best known for her role in ‘Benidorm’, has passed away. She was 89 at the time of her passing. She was best known for playing the role of Noreen on the hit show for more than a decade.
The news of her demise was confirmed by her talent agent, Michelle Sykes, on Wednesday, as reported by The Independent. She cited in a statement about the actress saying that “She passed away peacefully, after a short illness, surrounded by her loving family on 21st April 2026 at the age of 89.”

Tributes pour in for Elise Kelly

As soon as the news of her passing was shared online, many people fans, fellow celebrities and netizens alike started paying their respects and sharing tributes for the veteran star.


In an online post, ‘Benidorm’ creator Derren Litten talked about the famed star and wrote “One of the best loved characters in the show and certainly one of the most beloved cast members. Elsie’s acting abilities and comic genius were so natural they were almost taken for granted.”


Her co-star Crissy Rock from the show also paid her respects and wrote in a post about how shocked she was to hear the news. She further added “We shared so many wonderful memories filming Benidorm, moments I’ll always treasure. She was an absolute joy to work with and brought so much warmth and laughter wherever she went.”

All you need to know about Elise Kelly

Elise Kelly had been a part of the entertainment world for decades and had worked across various genres. She had also worked extensively in television, theatre, and film, making her one of the most seasoned actresses of her time. She was born in Liverpool in 1936.


She started off her career in theatre; however, years later made her TV debut at the age of 49 with ‘Crossroads.’ Some of her other notable works included ‘The Ghost Hunter and Harry’ and ‘The Wrinklies.’ Her household name as Noreen on ‘Benidorm’ is where most knew her from. She started working on the show when she was 69 years old and rose to national fame with the show’s success.Get the latest entertainment updates from the Times of India, along with the latest Hindi movies, upcoming Hindi movies in 2026 , and Telugu movies.”