Born in Coventry. From an acting family her stage career started at age 8. When 17 she retired from the stage to marry artist G.F. Watts, 30 years her senior. Her desire for the stage was greater than that for her husband and they separated after less than a year. She disappeared and her father misidentified a body recovered from the Thames as hers. She resurfaced to reveal that she was, aged 20, having a happy affair with the architect-designer Edward W. Godwin, which produced two children. She went on to have two more marriages, each to actors (Irving and an American 30 years her junior), but her greatest partnership was professional, with the actor/manager Henry Irving. Died at her home in Kent, Smallhythe, which is now a museum. John Gielgud was her great-nephew.
This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Ellen Terry
Commemorated ati
Queen's Theatre - Long Acre
Queen's Theatre The old Queen's Theatre occupied this site for just eleven y...
Other Subjects
Sir Bruce Forsyth
TV presenter and all-round entertainer. Born Edmonton. Sunday Night at the London Palladium, The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right, Strictly Come Dancing - the shows just...
Stephen Poliakoff
Film director and playwright. Born in Holland Park. At the age of 24 he became writer in residence at the National Theatre. His many works encompass the stage, cinema and television.
Margaret Walker
Acting school director. She worked with Joan Littlewood in the Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, which inspired her to found the East 15 Acting School in Loughton, Essex.
Sir Alfred Butt
Theatre impressario, Conservative politician, racehorse owner. Born London. Started as an accountant at Harrods and then moved to the Palace Theatre Cambridge Circus, becoming MD in 1906. It wa...
Joseph Grimaldi
Pantomime clown appearing at Sadler's Wells, Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres. The traditional clowns' make-up, being called Joey and many of the gags and tricks date back to Grimaldi. Born i...
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