Lily Langtry

Lily Langtry (1853–1929) was a renowned British-American socialite, actress and producer.

Biography

Also known as Lillie Langtry and nicknamed "The Jersey Lily". Born Emilie Charlotte Le Breton on the island of Jersey on October 13, 1853, she married - taking on the surname Langtry - and moved to London in 1876, where she became a celebrated beauty and socialite, enjoying a number of relationships with influential and famous people, including the Prince of Wales. In 1881, Langtry was in need of money and her friend Oscar Wilde suggested she try the stage, and so Langtry embarked upon an illustrious theatrical career, initially as actress but soon after also as manager of her own company. Her last stage appearances were in 1917.

She had at one point became an American citizen and ended her days in Monaco, where she passed away on February 12, 1929.

(For more on her life and international career, see for example the extensive Wikipedia entry on her[1])

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Langtry visited South Africa in 1906, and performed in the Opera House, Cape Town, under the Wheeler Brothers' management, opening on 5 February with The Degenerates (Grundy) and following that with As You Like It (Shakespeare).

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lillie_Langtry

F.C.L. Bosman, 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [2]: pp. F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.

Go to the ESAT Bibliography