Eileen Joan Essell (8 October 1922 – 15 February 2015) was an English actress, noted in part for not beginning her screen acting career until the age of 79.

[1] Essell retired from stage acting in 1958 following her marriage to playwright and actor Gerard McLarnon.

After the death of her husband in 1997, Christopher Webber (a family friend) lured her back on stage to play a leading role in a zarzuela he was directing at London's Bloomsbury Theatre, The Girl with the Roses (1999).

She later appeared in The Bill, Doc Martin, Holby City, Hustle, Casualty, Ideal and Sensitive Skin, among other episodes.

She guest starred as Christine in the episode "From Out of the Rain" in season 2 of the BBC spin-off show Torchwood.