Sarah Maria Wilson facts for kids

Sarah Maria Wilson was a talented English actress who lived in the 1700s. She was known for her funny roles on stage. She performed in many famous theaters in London and other cities.

Early Acting Career

Sarah Maria Wilson's first name was Adcock. She started her acting journey in York. In the summer of 1773, she was known as Mrs. Weston. She played funny characters like Lucy Lockit in the play Beggar's Opera. She also appeared as Miss Notable in 'Lady's Last Stake.'

Becoming a Star in London

After acting in Leeds, where people really liked her, and in Glasgow in 1774, Sarah moved to London. There, she met and married Richard Wilson, who was also an actor. As Mrs. Wilson, she performed at the famous Haymarket Theatre in May 1775.

She played Betsy Blossom in 'The Cozeners' and Lucy in 'The Virgin Unmasked.' During her first season at the Haymarket, she took on many different roles. She played Nell in 'Devil to Pay' and Juletta in 'Metamorphoses.'

In 1776, she performed at Covent Garden, another big London theater. She played Polly Honeycombe and Kitty in 'High Life Below Stairs.' Sarah was known for her ability to play many different types of characters. In 1780, she was the first actress to play Betsy Blossom in 'Deaf Lover' and Bridget in 'Chapter of Accidents.'

A fun fact about her career: in 1781, she played Filch in the Beggar's Opera where all the male parts were played by women and vice versa!

Later Life and Passing

Sarah Maria Wilson stopped acting after the 1785 theater season. She passed away in Edinburgh in 1786.

Her Husband, Richard Wilson

Sarah's husband, Richard Wilson, was also a well-known actor. He was born in Durham and performed for many years at Covent Garden and the Haymarket. He was very good at playing funny characters.

Richard Wilson played many famous roles, including Sir Anthony Absolute, Tony Lumpkin, and Falstaff. He also created new characters like Don Jerome in 'The Duenna' and John Dory in 'Wild Oats.'