Elizabeth Rebecca Edwin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Rebecca Edwin
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| Born | c. 1771 |
| Died | 3 August 1854 |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | actor |
| Spouse(s) | John Edwin the younger |
Elizabeth Rebecca Edwin (born around 1771, died 1854) was a famous actress from Ireland and England. She performed on stage in the late 1700s and early 1800s. She was known for her talent in comedy roles.
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Early Life and Stage Debut
Elizabeth Rebecca Edwin was born in Dublin, Ireland. Her father, William Talbot Richards, was also an actor. He worked at the Crow Street Theatre when Elizabeth was born.
When she was about eight years old, Elizabeth started acting too. She appeared in plays like Prince Arthur at the Crow Street Theatre. She even had a special part written just for her in a play called The Female Club.
After a short break for her education, Elizabeth returned to the stage. She performed in different country theatres. In 1789, she made her first appearance in London at the famous Covent Garden Theatre.
Rising Star in Comedy
The next year, Elizabeth joined a theatre company in Hull. She quickly became very popular in comedy plays. A theatre manager named Tate Wilkinson said she was the "very best" actress he had seen in her type of roles. He praised her youth, grace, and pretty face.
Elizabeth married another actor, John Edwin the younger. Together, they performed in many places. They acted at the Haymarket Theatre in London in 1792. They also performed in private theatres in Dublin.
In 1794, Elizabeth and her husband rejoined Tate Wilkinson's company. They performed in cities like Doncaster and Cheltenham. Later, they became very popular in Bath, Bristol, and Southampton. Elizabeth often played the main characters in comedies and funny plays.
Later Career and Challenges
Elizabeth Edwin was hired to act at the famous Drury Lane theatre. However, before she could perform there, the theatre burned down! So, in 1809, she performed with the Drury Lane company at the Lyceum theatre instead. She played important comedy roles there for several years.
In 1815, she was chosen to recite a special poem. This poem celebrated the Battle of Waterloo. After this, she returned to the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin. She also performed at other well-known theatres in London, like the Olympic Theatre and the Adelphi.
Elizabeth had earned enough money to retire from acting. But sadly, she lost most of her savings. A dishonest stockbroker took her money and left the country. This meant she had to return to the stage.
In 1821, she performed at Drury Lane again. She played the Duenna in a comic opera. She openly admitted that she was getting older for the roles she used to play. After many more years of acting, she finally retired for good.
Retirement and Legacy
Elizabeth Rebecca Edwin lived quietly in retirement for a long time. She passed away in Chelsea, London, on August 3, 1854.
People remembered her for her graceful way of delivering speeches and closing remarks in plays. She was described as being a bit shorter than average, with fair skin and expressive facial features.
Two portraits of Elizabeth Edwin are kept in the Mathews collection at the Garrick Club. These paintings show her in some of her famous roles.
