Anne Humby facts for kids

Anne Humby (born Anne Ayre) was a talented British actress and singer. She was active on stage from 1817 until at least 1849. Many people knew her simply as "Mrs. Humby."

Starting Out: Early Career (1817-1820)

Anne Humby learned her craft from a famous music teacher named Domenico Corri. Her very first performance was in an opera called Rosina in Kingston upon Hull, a city in England.

During her first acting season, she married a man whose last name was Humby. He worked as a dentist. After her debut, Anne performed in Bath, Somerset. On November 4, 1818, she played the character Rosetta in a play called Love in a Village.

Between 1818 and 1819, Anne took on many different roles. She played Euphrosyne in Comus. She also appeared as Luciana in The Comedy of Errors. Other roles included Araminta in Young Quaker and Audrey in As You Like It. She even played Dorinda in a version of The Tempest.

Moving On: Dublin and London (1820-1830)

In 1820, Anne Humby left Bath and moved to Dublin, Ireland, by 1821. She had a child with her husband there.

She continued to perform in Dublin. On January 5, 1822, she played Rosa in Rendezvous. Later that month, on January 29, she was Lucy in The Beggar's Opera. In 1825, she played Cowslip in The Agreeable Surprise. That same year, she also took on roles like Dollalolla in Tom Thumb and Maud in Peeping Tom. She was Jenny in The Provoked Husband and Cicely in The Heir at Law.

Later, Anne moved to London, England. She performed at famous theaters like the Haymarket Theatre and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She became especially well-known for playing maid characters. For example, she was the maid Patch in Busy Body and Kitty in High Life Below Stairs. A magazine called The Dramatic Magazine said she was excellent at playing maids or hatmakers. However, they felt she didn't have the "refined and delicate manners" needed for other types of roles.

Later Life and Legacy

In 1837, another famous actor named William Macready wanted to hire Anne. He offered her a good salary of over six pounds a week. However, a disagreement with another actor caused her to leave the project.

Anne Humby continued acting into the 1840s. In 1849, she was performing at the Lyceum Theatre in London. Her husband, the dentist, had his practice in the Strand area of London. He later passed away in Guernsey.

Anne eventually married a man named Joseph Hammond. They settled down in Barnes, a part of London. It is believed that Anne Humby passed away on September 29, 1863.