Maria Honner facts for kids
Maria Honner was a famous Irish actress who lived in the 1800s. She was known for her amazing performances on stage, especially in sad or emotional roles. She started acting when she was very young and became a popular star in theatres across Ireland and England.
Maria Honner's Acting Journey
Maria Honner was born in Enniskillen, Ireland, on December 21, 1812. Her father, Eugene Macarthy, was also an actor and theatre manager. Maria went to school in Cork. Sadly, she lost her mother when she was young. This meant she had to take care of herself and her younger brother.
She began her acting career at a theatre in the south of Ireland. Later, she performed in Dublin. Her talent for playing young, serious characters caught the eye of famous actors like Edmund Kean and William Charles Macready. One of her first big roles was Rosalie Somers in a play called Town and Country, where she acted alongside Edmund Kean.
After her success in Ireland, Maria moved to Scotland and quickly became a favorite among audiences. In 1831, she joined the Pavilion Theatre in London. For two seasons, she was the main attraction there. In 1833, she moved to the Coburg Theatre. When the theatre's owner, G. B. Davidge, retired, Maria went to Sadler's Wells theatre, which was managed by Robert William Honner.
Maria had two very successful seasons at Sadler's Wells. After that, she moved to the Surrey Theatre. In June 1835, she performed with great success as Julia in a play called 'The Hunchback' at Drury Lane. On May 21, 1836, she married Robert William Honner.
She continued to act with her husband at the Surrey Theatre until 1838. Then, her husband became the owner of Sadler's Wells, and they performed there together for about five years, enjoying much success. Maria later returned to the Surrey Theatre, staying until September 17, 1845. After that, she acted at the City of London Theatre.
Maria Honner was especially good at playing characters who were sad or going through tough times. After another famous actress, Elizabeth Yates, retired, Maria was considered one of the best in these types of roles. She was also excellent in many plays by William Shakespeare. Some of her other memorable roles included Mary in 'Paul the Pilot', Susan in 'Kohal Cave', Felix in 'the French Revolution', Blanche in 'Blanche Heriot', and Clemency in Charles Dickens's 'The Battle of Life'.
Maria Honner passed away on January 4, 1870, due to paralysis. She was living with her second husband, Frederick Morton, who was a stage-manager at the Charing Cross Theatre.
