Frances Abington facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fanny Abington
Portrait by Joshua Reynolds
Born	Frances Barton 1737 (1737) London, England
Died	(1815-03-04)4 March 1815 London, England
Nationality	British
Other names	Nosegay Fan
Occupation	Actress
Employer	Haymarket Theatre, Drury Lane, Covent Garden
Notable work	Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal
Spouse(s)	James Abington

Frances "Fanny" Abington (born Barton; 1737 – 4 March 1815) was a famous English actress. She was also well-known for her amazing sense of fashion.

A writer and politician named Horace Walpole said she was one of the best actors of her time. It is also believed that Richard Brinsley Sheridan wrote the role of Lady Teazle in his play The School for Scandal just for her.

Fanny Abington's Early Life

Fanny Abington was born Frances Barton in London, England, in 1737. Her father was a soldier. She started her life selling flowers and singing on the streets. People also said she recited Shakespeare in pubs when she was only 12 years old.

Later, she worked for a French hat maker. This job taught her a lot about making costumes. She also learned to speak French during this time. Her early nickname, "Nosegay Fan," came from her time as a flower girl. A "nosegay" is a small bunch of flowers.

Becoming a Star: Fanny Abington's Acting Career

Fanny Abington first appeared on stage in 1755. She played Miranda in a play called Busybody at the Haymarket Theatre. She quickly became a main actor. In October 1756, she got a big role as Lady Pliant in The Double Dealer at the Drury Lane Theatre. Famous actors like Hannah Pritchard and Kitty Clive were also in this play.

Fanny also performed in Ireland. Her role as Lady Townley in The Provoked Husband was a huge success there. The famous actor and theater manager David Garrick convinced her to come back to Drury Lane. They worked together until he retired in 1776.

Marriage and Wealth

From 1759, she was known as "Mrs Abington" in theater programs. This was after she married her music teacher, James Abington, who was a royal trumpeter. However, they separated soon after their marriage. He found it hard to deal with her growing popularity. They lived apart, and Fanny paid him a small amount of money each year to stay away.

Fanny became a very wealthy woman. She earned a lot from her acting. She also received money from important people she knew. This income, along with her stage work, made her quite rich.

Key Roles and Fashion Influence

Fanny Abington stayed at the Drury Lane Theatre for 18 years. During this time, she was the first to play over 30 important characters. One of her most famous roles was Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal in 1777.

In 1772, a painter named James Northcote saw her act. He said, "I never saw a part done so excellent in all my life. In her acting, she has all the simplicity of nature and not the least bit of being too theatrical."

Mrs Abington as Miss Prue by Sir Joshua Reynolds

Because she was so wealthy and popular, Fanny Abington also influenced fashion. Newspapers often wrote about her hairstyles. Her low hair in The School for Scandal was praised and even changed fashion trends. Her performance as Kitty in "High Life Below Stairs" made her one of the best comic actresses. The mob cap she wore in that role became very popular. People soon called it the "Abington Cap" in theaters and hat shops across England and Ireland.

Sir Joshua Reynolds painted several portraits of Fanny Abington. The most famous one shows her as Miss Prue from Congreve's play Love for Love. In 1782, she left Drury Lane and moved to the Covent Garden Theatre. She took a break from acting from 1790 to 1797. She then returned for a short time before finally retiring in 1799.

Later Life and Death

Frances Abington passed away on March 4, 1815. She died at her home on Pall Mall in London. She was buried at St James's Church, Piccadilly.