Ellen Thomas (born 3 February 1954) 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. In 2010, she had a minor role in Come Fly with Me, as Mrs Mbutu.
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. From 2018 to 2019, Thomas appeared in the medical drama by the BBC Casualty, in the recurring role of Omo Masters. In 2020, she appeared in an episode of Death in Paradise. In 2021 she appeared in the first season of Netflix's Arcane, voicing Ambessa Medarda and reprised the role for season 2 in 2024. In 2023, she appeared in The Madame Blanc Mysteries. In 2024, she appeared in two episodes of the BBC crime drama Silent Witness.
On stage, Thomas made her debut in July 1981, in London, playing Madam Irma in the ground breaking multi-racial performance of Jean Genet's revolutionary The Balcony, presented by Internationalist TheatreChristopher Hudson, "On the Fringe", The New Standard, 3 July 1981, p. 29. She also played the role of Enid Matthews in Leave Taking at its debut at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1987 and in a run at the Lyric, Hammersmith in 1990.
Filmography +Television roles Year Title Role Notes 1980The Gentle Touch Laura Series 5, Episode 4 1981Sunday Night ThrillerAssistant 1 episode 1982O.T.T.Herself, various 12 episodes 1983Don't Wait UpReceptionist Series 1, Episode 5 1984Shroud for a NightingaleStaff Nurse 3 episodes 1987The Lenny Henry ShowRose Series 1, Episode 1–6 1988French and Saunders Various characters Christmas specialThe Lenny Henry ShowRose Series 2, Episode 1–6 1989CBS Summer PlayhouseMrs. HolmesSeries 3, Episode 10 "Outpost" 1990Hallelujah AnyhowUnnamed CharacterEastEndersPearl Chadwick3 episodes 1991Grange HillPregnancy AdvisorSeries 14, Episode 14 1993ScreenplayAunt Mafe1 episode 1994–1996Cardiac ArrestSister Jackie Landers14 episodes 1994The BillIris Davareux "Lesson to Be Learned"Home Away from HomeMiriam 1995London BridgeDiane Symmons Series 2, Episode 1–21996The Ruth Rendell MysteriesLaurette Akande3 episodes 1997Holding OnFlorrie Series 1 Episode 1–8Kavanagh QCChief UsherSeries 3, Episode 1 "Mute of Malice" 1998UltravioletMaria Series 1, Episode 5 "Terra Incognita" 2000The BillMrs. Okin "White Lies"In DefenceMrs. Hope Series 1, Episode 1Where There's SmokeCounsellor Edwards Never NeverBrenda Short drama 2001–2004TeachersLiz Webb Series 1–4 (39 episodes) 2002DoctorsMrs. Foster 1 episodeThe BillAisha DanversHolby CityMarcia Lyme 1 episodeThe JuryRuby Thomas Series 1, Episode 1–4EastEndersEstella Hulton 1 episode 2003StrangeMrs. Andoh Series 1, Episode 2 "Kaa-Jinn"Lenny Henry in PiecesUnnamed Character Series 2, Episode 2Good Food LiveHerself 1 episode 2005Casualty Stephanie Mellor Episode: "Aftermath"William and Mary Mrs. Morris Series 3, Episode 2 2006Doctor WhoClockwork WomanSeries 2, Episode 4 "The Girl in the Fireplace"Little Miss JocelynUnnamed Character Series 1, Episode 1 and 3Trial & RetributionJudge Joyce Addo "Sins Of The Father"DoctorsMarie Crossley Series 7, Episode 140 "Ashes to Ashes"The Play's the ThingHerselfSeries 1, Episode 2 2007OutnumberedJehovah's WitnessSeries 1, Episode 4One of Us?MumShort film 2008Coming of Age The Principal All episodes since series 1, episode 3New Tricks Cora Trimble Series 5, Episode 8 "Mad Dogs" 2009Off the Hook Angela Series 1, Episode 1Doctor Who Carmen Easter 2009 special; "Planet of the Dead"Moses JonesLibby Jones Series 1, Episodes 2 and 3 2010–2011EastEndersGrace Olubunmi Recurring role 2010-2014Rev. Adoha Onyeka All episodes 2011Come Fly with MeMrs. MbutuEpisode 2EastEnders: E20 Grace Olubunmi 2012DoctorsMrs Francelle Ndebele"Paradise Lost"Casualty Florence Asike 2 episodes 2015–2016EastEndersClaudette Hubbard Regular role 2015Humans Lindsey Kiwanuka Episode 1–2 2015–2017Mount Pleasant Nana Miller Regular role 2016New Blood Joan Philips Episode 1 2018–2019Casualty Omo Masters Recurring role2018–2019In the Long RunMama5 episodes (voice role), 2 episodes 2018Midsomer MurdersRuth Crane1 episodeThe Queen and IPhilomena TroussaintTelevision film2019DoctorsLiz Maberry1 episodeDark MoneyMaggie MensahMain role2020Death in Paradise Georgine PeraultSeries 9, Episode 72021–2024ArcaneAmbessa MedardaVoice, 9 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 The Cleaner Jennifer Episode: "The Committee" 2026 Dragon Striker Nurse Volgora Voice, 2 episodesTBAFinding Forever Sources:
+ Film roles Year Title Role 2001South West 9 Mrs. Ashware Buried Treasure Martha 2002Jeffrey Archer: The Truth First Judge 2006Basic Instinct 2 Prosecutor Losing It Paula Breaking and Entering Judge 2008Clubbed Mrs. Smith 2010 The Future Wags of Great Britain Auntie Deborah The Santa Trap Tooth Fairy 2011Johnny English Reborn Colin Tucker's mother 2016 Golden Years Thelma 2022 Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris Vi Butterfield The Pay Day Ms Boomer Sources:
Audiobooks 2025: C. L. Clark: Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf. A League of Legends: Arcane Novel, Little, Brown Audio
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result 2016 The British Soap Awards Villain of the Year 2016 Inside Soap Awards Best Bad Girl
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