Inside On The Buses star Anna Karen’s colourful life from nudist film and striptease gig to best pal Babs Windsor
ON The Buses legend Anna Karen has hit the headlines six months after her death after she left her £400k fortune to former EastEnders co-star Sophie Lawrence.
But while fans have been fascinated by this longtime friendship and surprise inheritance, actress Anna – who died in a house fire aged 85 back in February – has always had a fascinating life.
Here, we look back at the ups and downs the Carry On… and sitcom star, best known for playing dowdy Olive Rudge in On The Buses, experienced during her long-running career.
Raunchy start
When Anna was a struggling actress back in the 1950s, she earnt her cash working as a kitchen porter washing dishes.
Realising there was a better way to earn bigger bucks, she soon embarked on an evening job as a striptease dancer at London’s Panama Club.
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Anna’s first big break in the film industry was equally risque as she was cast in the 1961 nudist flick Naturist Memories, which was a success at the box office.
From there, she landed a small role in the Ken Loach film Poor Cow, before getting a gig in Carry on Camping, where she met longtime pal Barbara Windsor.
Failed marriage
Anna first married aged just 21 to Richard Smart, an aspiring opera singer.
The pair lived in Italy together for several years while Richard trained in his craft.
Unfortunately the marriage didn’t work out and the pair ended up divorcing.
Ten years later, Anna wed again, this time to the love of her life, actor and comedian Terry Duggan.
The pair didn’t have children but Anna was a stepmum to Gloria, Terry’s daughter from a previous relationship.
The couple lived together in Ilford, London until Terry’s death in 2008.
Breakout role
Anna was best known for her role as Olive in On the Buses, featuring in all 74 episodes of the hit sitcom.
The show ran from 1969 to 1973.
She also appeared in the series’ spin off films, On the Buses – the highest-grossing film of 1971 – Mutiny on the Buses and Holiday on the Buses.
Olive was a dowdy, sexually frustrated character who was best known for her iconic spectacles and buck teeth.
In 1977, Anna revived the role of Olive in spin-off The Rag Trade, which ran for two years.
Best mate Babs
Anna was thick as thieves with the late Barbara Windsor, who she met on the set of the Carry on Films.
The pair reunited in 1996 when they both had recurring roles in EastEnders.
Karen played Aunt Sal, the sister of Windsor’s Peggy Mitchell, who would appear for one or two episodes at a time.
Windsor died on 10 December 2020 aged 83 and left £1,000 in her will to Anna.
Tragic death
Anna Karen died in a house fire in Ilford, London.
Three fire engines and 20 firefighters rushed to the scene on Windsor Road, shortly after 10.30pm on the night of February 22.
It took the crew less than hour to get the fire on the ground floor of the terrace house under control.
However, despite their best efforts, Anna tragically died at the scene.
A family friend told the Mail Online: “We are absolutely horrified at the news about Anna.”
