Charlotte Mardyn facts for kids
Charlotte Mardyn (1789 – after 1844) was an English actress from the early 1800s. She became well-known for her beauty and acting, and was also involved in a famous public rumor connected to the poet Lord Byron.
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Early Life and First Steps on Stage
Not much is known for sure about Charlotte Mardyn's early life. She told different stories about where she was born. Some said she was born in Chichester in 1789. Others said she was born in Ireland. She had very little schooling when she was young. In fact, she couldn't even write her full name until after she became an actress.
Around 1807, Charlotte worked as a dress-maker in Portsmouth. The next year, she was a housemaid in Gosport. While there, she met an actor named Mardyn. He was part of a traveling acting group. Charlotte wanted a better life than working in kitchens. She married Mr. Mardyn and joined his acting company.
In 1808, she made her first stage appearance in Portsmouth. She acted alongside her husband in a play called The Jew and the Doctor. Because she couldn't read well, someone had to teach her all her lines. At first, she felt very nervous on stage. She wasn't a big success. Critics said she was beautiful but struggled when she had to speak.
Charlotte Mardyn was determined to get better. She worked hard to improve her education. She also practiced her grammar and how she spoke. She eventually separated from her husband. By 1810, she had at least one child.
Becoming a Professional Actress
Charlotte found work at the Theatre Royal, Bath. The theater manager, William Wyatt Dimond, became her teacher. He helped her improve her acting skills a lot. After this, she moved to the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin. There, people started calling her the "Venus of Crow Street" because of her beauty.
In 1811, she became a successful dancer at the Tottenham Street Theatre. She also played a housemaid in a play called Love in a Village. Even though her acting was sometimes described as just "okay," her stunning looks helped her career. In 1815, she signed a five-year contract. This was with the famous Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where she earned £10 a week.
Success at Drury Lane
Charlotte Mardyn made her big debut at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1816. She played Amelia Wildenhaim in a play called Lovers' Vows. She was very successful in this role. After that, she played Albina Mandeville in The Will. She also took on roles like Miss Peggy in Garrick's The Country Girl. Another role was Miss Hoyden in A Trip to Scarborough.
During this time, her first husband reappeared. He tried to claim her earnings. Charlotte agreed to pay him a small amount each week. This was so he would stay away from her. Later, she heard he had died. But then he showed up again, causing trouble. Despite this, Charlotte continued to act. She appeared in plays like Tamerlane and The Quaker. She also played Zuleika alongside the famous actor Edmund Kean. This was in The Bride of Abydos (1818). She also played Sylvia in The Recruiting Officer (1819).
The Lord Byron Rumor
In 1816, a big rumor started about Charlotte Mardyn. It involved the famous poet Lord Byron. Some stories said that Byron's wife, Lady Byron, found Charlotte at their home. Lady Byron then supposedly left her husband and never returned. This led to gossip that Charlotte Mardyn was involved with Byron. People even described her as an actress with a "bad reputation."
However, there was another version of the story. This version was more innocent. Lord Byron was on the committee that managed the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. Charlotte Mardyn visited his home to talk about a role. A bad storm started, and she couldn't leave. Byron offered her his carriage. But Lady Byron supposedly stopped the servants. She said Charlotte Mardyn would "never ride in a carriage belonging to me." Byron then invited Charlotte to stay for dinner. When Lady Byron came into the room, she made some harsh comments. She then left her home for good.
Byron later told his biographer, Thomas Medwin, that the rumor was false. He said that as part of the theater committee, many actresses visited him. But he claimed he barely knew Mrs. Mardyn. Despite his words, the public believed the rumor. Charlotte Mardyn was sometimes booed on stage. Lord Byron also faced negative reactions in the streets. Even with the scandal, Charlotte stayed at Drury Lane. She earned £20 a week until 1819.
Later Life and Retirement
Charlotte Mardyn's first husband passed away in 1820. In the same year, her contract at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane ended. She moved to the Haymarket Theatre. However, she didn't find success there and decided to retire from acting.
It was reported that she married a well-known Frenchman. They supposedly lived together in France and Italy. Because of her charm and beauty, her new husband bought a title. This meant she became a Baroness.
In November 1824, a newspaper called The Morning Post published an article about her. It said that Charlotte Mardyn had returned to England. She had spent four years traveling in Europe. The article also mentioned that Captain Medwin's recent book had helped clear her name. It stated that Lord Byron had never met Mrs. Mardyn outside of the theater. It said the rumor was completely false. The newspaper also reported that Charlotte Mardyn had saved enough money from her acting career to live comfortably. She had no plans to return to the stage.
Years later, in 1834, Byron's play Sardanapalus was performed. Some people thought Byron had written a part in it for Charlotte Mardyn. However, Byron had written the play to be read, not performed. So, it's unlikely he wrote a role specifically for her. The part instead went to another actress, Ellen Tree.
A painting of Charlotte Mardyn by Thomas Charles Wageman is part of the Royal Collection.
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