| Images | |
 Statue of Sarah Siddons near St. Mary on Paddington Green, London. Picture by Androom (26 Jun 2009) |
 The grave of Sarah Siddons at the churchyard of St. Mary on Paddington Green, London. Picture by Androom (26 Jun 2009) |
Siddons, Sarah |
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BORN 5 Jul 1755, Breconn, Brecknockshire, Wales: in an Inn - DIED 8 Jun 1831, London REAL NAME Kemble, Sarah GRAVE LOCATION London: St. Mary on Paddington Green Churchyard, Paddington Green, Paddington (cemetery cleared) |
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Sarah Siddons was the greatest tragical actress of her time and
most famous for playing Lady MacBeth. She was the daughter of
actor-manager Roger Kemble and Sarah Ward. Against the wishes
of her father she married the actor William Siddons in Nov 1773.
In 1774 she attracted attention as Belvidera in "Venice Preserved"
by Thomas Otway. Her first appearances at Drury Lane were unsuccesful
and in 1777 she went to tour the provinces. In 1782 she returned
to Drury Lane and this time she was an instant succes in Garrick's
version of "Isabella, or, The Fatal Marriage" by Thomas Souterne. She played Lady MacBeth, Desdemona, Ophelia and other parts with equal succes. She was the star of Drury Lane for twenty years and was able to mix in higher society, at that time unusual for actors. She was generous and intelligent, but when her acquaintance Mary Wollstonecraft, who already had a child, married William Godwin in 1797, she closed her door for her. After she left Drury Lane in 1802 she performed at Covent Garden where she played Lady MacBeth in her farewell performance on 9 Jun 1812. Her last appearance was on 9 Jun 1819 as Lady Randolph in "Douglas" by John Home. She had seven children, but three of them died young. Her portrait was painted by both Gainsborough and Reynolds. The actors John Philip Kemble and Charles Kemble were younger brothers and Fanny Kemble was her niece. Related persons • is uncle/aunt of Kemble, Fanny • has a connection with Wollstonecraft, Mary Sources • Crawford, Anne and others, The Europa Biographical Dictionary of British Women, Europa Publications Ltd, London, 1983 • Wikipedia (English) |
| Images | |
|
Statue of Sarah Siddons near St. Mary on Paddington Green, London. Picture by Androom (26 Jun 2009) |
The grave of Sarah Siddons at the churchyard of St. Mary on Paddington Green, London. Picture by Androom (26 Jun 2009) |
