| Anna Karen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 September 1936 South Africa |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1959–present |
| Spouse | Terry Duggan (m. ?-2008, his death) |
Anna Karen (born 19 September 1936) is a South African-born British film, television and theatre actress.
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Early in her career, Karen worked as a striptease dancer at London's Panama Club. During her acting career she has starred in many films and television programmes, including the BBC sitcom Wild, Wild Women, between 1968 and 1969. That same year she played a schoolgirl in the classic bikini-flying scene in the film Carry On Camping (even though she was 32 years old). In both these roles she acted with Barbara Windsor (herself a 31-year-old "schoolgirl" in the film).
Karen's best remembered role was in the LWT sitcom On the Buses (1969–73). In this series, Karen played Olive, the dowdy sister of Stan (Reg Varney), and wife of Arthur (Michael Robbins). She also appeared in the film spin-offs, On the Buses, Mutiny on the Buses, and Holiday on the Buses. From 1977 to 1978, Karen reprised the role of Olive in the LWT revival of the sitcom The Rag Trade created by the same writers.
In 1995, Anna Karen played a supporting role in the film Beautiful Thing, as a neighbour of the main characters, Ste and Jamie. A year later, Karen reunited with Barbara Windsor, this time in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders. Karen plays Sal Martin, the sister of Windsor's Peggy Mitchell. Although Karen has never been a permanent cast member in the soap, she has continued to appear as 'Aunt' Sal Martin occasionally over the years, usually for only one or two episodes at a time.
In 2006, Anna Karen used her experience as a striptease dancer to act as a judge in the final edition of Channel 4's reality television documentary Faking It. In 2008, Karen was a guest on the Channel 4's Sunday Night Project, again with Barbara Windsor.
Karen has also been a regular in pantomimes over the years, and played the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella at the Millfield Theatre, at Christmas 2008.[1]
Karen lives in Essex, and was married to actor/comedian Terry Duggan until his death in 2008.[2][3] As well as continuing to make recurring appearances in EastEnders as Sal Martin, Karen teaches drama at Paul's Theatre School, based in Hornchurch, Essex.
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1969–1973 | On the Buses | Olive Rudge (née Butler) |
| 1977–1978 | The Rag Trade | Olive |
| 1996– | EastEnders | Sal Martin |