Stella Tanner
Acting · Production
Born January 1, 1925, London, England, UK
Stella Tanner (1 January 1925 – 26 March 2012) was an English radio and television actress. Tanner was born on 1 January 1925 and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). She left her focus on dramatic acting to form the Tanner Sisters with her sister, Frances Tanner. Together the Tanner Sisters made hundreds of appearances on British radio and television during the 1950s, even performing alongside Buddy Holly in March 1958. The Tanner Sisters often performed with the Hedley Ward Trio, appearing with them first on the Educating Archie radio show from 1950 to 1952. Tanner pursued a career in television comedy after she and Frances ended the Tanner Sisters act after ten years. Tanner made her television acting debut in 1960 on Sykes and A..., opposite Eric Sykes. She was cast in guest roles in numerous sitcoms, including an episode of The Rag Trade in 1963, Fawlty Towers in 1979, and It Ain't Half Hot Mum in 1981. From 1971 to 1972, she portrayed Adam Faith's girlfriend's mother in the ITV series, Budgie. Tanner was also cast as Luisa di Marco on the EastEnders throughout 1998, as well as a role on Coronation Street.
Filmography
- 2005The Funny Blokes of British Comedy — Mrs. Arrad (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1997April Fool's Day — Renee
- Casualty — Joan Cooper
- Slinger's Day — Customer
- Bleak House — Mrs. Chadband
- The Bill
- Goodbye Darling — Mavis Twiss
- Never the Twain — Winnie
- 1981The Day of the Janitor — Dolly
- Grundy — Charlotte Boodle
- The Gentle Touch
- 1978Red Shift — Tom's Mother
- Citizen Smith — Mrs McLaughlin
- The Upchat Line — Publican
- Fawlty Towers — Mrs. Arrad
- My Son Reuben
- 1975Overlord — Mum
- It Ain't Half Hot Mum
- Crown Court
- 1972Sex and the Other Woman — Mother-In-Law
- Sykes — Brenda
- Bless This House — Doris Grimshaw
- Budgie — Mrs. Fletcher
- 1971Father's Help — Eileen
- 1971Fun and Games — Mrs. Jackson
- 1970Rumour
- 1969Otley — Traffic Warden
- Nicholas Nickleby — Miss Knag
- 1968The Best Pair of Legs in the Business — Emma
- The Expert — Vera Norton
- The Jazz Age — Lil
- The Ronnie Barker Playhouse — Producer
- Mystery and Imagination — Streetwalker
- 1964Murder Most Foul — Florrie Harris
- The Four Seasons of Rosie Carr — Edith Barr
- Theatre 625 — Cissie Kahn, Observant Woman, Minna Hinks
- Festival — Woman with Red Hat
- Sunday-Night Play — Ethel Levey
- No Hiding Place
- Emergency: Ward 10