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
J.B. Priestley
Novelist, playwright and essayist. Wrote "When we are married" and "An Inspector Calls".
Ivor Novello
Composer, singer and actor-manager. Born David Ivor Davies in Cardiff. Wrote 'Keep the Home Fires Burning', a big success in WW1. Appeared in over 20 movies. Worked at Gainsborough Film Studios. Br...
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...
Emlyn Williams
Welsh dramatist and actor. Born Flintshire, North Wales. Died at home, Flat 3, 123 Dovehouse Street.