Harriett Litchfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harriett Litchfield
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| Born | 4 March 1777 |
| Died | 11 January 1854 (aged 76) |
| Nationality | British |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent(s) | John Sylvester Hay (father) |
Harriett Litchfield (born Harriett Sylvester Hay) was a famous British actress. She lived from 1777 to 1854 and was known for her powerful performances on stage.
Contents
Her Early Life
Harriett Sylvester Hay was born on March 4, 1777. Her grandfather was a vicar, which is a type of church leader. Her father, John Sylvester Hay, was a surgeon on a large warship called HMS Nassau. He was also the main surgeon at a big hospital in Calcutta. He might have even managed a theatre. Sadly, her father died when Harriett was only nine years old.
Starting Her Acting Career
Harriett first started acting in a town called Richmond. A well-known actress named Dorothea Jordan encouraged her. It's said that the famous Scottish poet Robbie Burns even invited her to Scotland in 1793.
The next year, she married a man named Mr. Litchfield. He worked for the government and had written some short pieces for plays. After a short break, Harriett returned to acting in 1796. She performed in a special show in 1797 at The Haymarket theatre to help another actress, Mary Ann Yates.
A Famous Performance: The Captive
On March 22, 1802, Harriett Litchfield performed in a very special one-woman show. It was at The Haymarket theatre and was called The Captive. The play was written by "Monk" Lewis.
In this play, Harriett played a wife who was trapped by her husband. The stage directions for the play included sounds like shrieks and clanking chains. Harriett was praised for her amazing acting. She played a woman who was kept completely alone in a modern dungeon. She wasn't crazy, but she knew she would soon become so. People said her acting was so strong that even the theatre staff were deeply affected. This powerful play was only performed once.
Later Life and Legacy
Harriett Litchfield passed away in 1854, most likely in London. She had a long marriage and six children.
Her talent was remembered through art. A portrait of her as Ophelia (a character from Shakespeare's Hamlet) was painted by Samuel De Wilde. This painting was kept in the Garrick Club. Another portrait of her was painted by Samuel Drummond.
