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 J. M. Barrie
Playwright and novelist. Born Kirriemuir, Scotland. Moved to London, Bloomsbury, in 1885 for his writing career. Less than 5 foot tall he was not very successful with women and developed a habit of...
Nigel Playfair
Actor and theatre manager. Born Nigel Ross Playfair in London. In 1918 he formed a syndicate to take over the derelict Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith. It became a highly successful drama venue, with ...
Ronnie Corbett
Actor and comedian. Born Ronald Balfour Corbett in Edinburgh. His career started in the theatre, particularly in cabaret with Danny La Rue. He came to national fame in BBC television's sketch show ...
Person, Cinema, Seriously Famous, Theatre, TV & Radio, Scotland
Gus Elen
Music-hall singer. Born Ernest Augustine Elen at 103 Pulford Street, Pimlico. He started performing in public houses in 1891, singing songs about working-class life. Moving on to the stage, he beca...