Cora Cross
| Cora Cross | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| EastEnders character | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Ann Mitchell | ||||||||
| Duration | 2011–2015 | ||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 4192 11 April 2011 |
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| Last appearance | Episode 5190 15 December 2015 |
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| Introduced by | Bryan Kirkwood | ||||||||
| Spin-off appearances |
Lauren's Diaries (2011) | ||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||
| Occupation | Charity shop manager Launderette assistant |
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| Husband | Bill Cross (backstory) |
|---|---|
| Daughters |
Ava Hartman Tanya Branning Rainie Cross |
| Grandsons |
Dexter Hartman Oscar Branning |
| Granddaughters |
Lauren Branning Abi Branning |
Cora Cross is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Ann Mitchell. Cora is the mother of Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) and Rainie Cross (Tanya Franks) and the grandmother of Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) and Abi Branning (Lorna Fitzgerald). Cora initially appeared from 11 to 15 April 2011, and returned as a regular character on 28 July. Cora is described as having "a brash, outspoken attitude and does not care who she offends", deemed "an archetypal East End matriarch" and Inside Soap says that Cora is a "brash, loud lady who likes to tell everyone what she thinks and has absolutely no shame."
In May 2011, when it was confirmed that Cora would be returning to EastEnders, executive producer Bryan Kirkwood said, "We all love Cora here—actress Ann Mitchell could be one of the Walford greats". Kirkwood was keen to find a new matriarch for the show after the loss of Peggy Mitchell, played by Barbara Windsor and explained that Cora is a perfect fit. Kate White of Inside Soap praised Cora and added she could watch Ann Mitchell acting "her socks off" all day long.
Mitchell took a break from the show in April 2015, returned on a recurring basis for five months from July to December 2015. Although it was reported that she would make a full return after a year, the character had not returned by the end of 2016.
Cora turns up at her daughter Tanya Branning's (Jo Joyner) house unannounced, and revealing that Tanya's fiancé Greg Jessop (Stefan Booth) invited her to their wedding against Tanya's wishes. Cora's other daughter, Rainie Cross, (Tanya Franks) also arrives at Tanya's house, which Tanya is initially unhappy about, but Cora vouches for her by promising that she is now clean from drugs and explains that Rainie's counsellor thinks she should reconnect with her family. Tanya soon softens towards her mother and sister. On Tanya's hen night, Cora takes a dislike to Vanessa Gold (Zöe Lucker) after Vanessa laughs about them living on a council estate. The next day, Tanya's ex-husband, Max, goes to Tanya's house after tearing their daughter Abi Branning's (Lorna Fitzgerald) bridesmaid dress; Tanya does not want to see him so Cora attempts to sort him out. She tells Max that although the girls have his name, they are Crosses deep down. It is later revealed that Rainie is staying at Cora's house. Cora then attends Tanya's wedding, and finds it amusing when Jane Beale (Laurie Brett) says she kissed Greg the night before. Cora departs after the wedding on 15 April, and Rainie later reveals that she has moved out of her mother's home.
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