Freda Godfrey

GODFREY, Freda. (“Florrie” -1889-1980) Actress. Born in London, she became a child star there (playing Wendy in Peter Pan for example) before joining the Leonard Rayne Company at the age of 14?** to appear as Peter Pan for six successive South African productions of the pantomime. As she matured she played numerous roles for the company, usually in the lead opposite Rayne, and became the darling of the South African stage during the first quarter of the 20th century. Her notable performances include ***, *** and ***. She soon became Rayne’s lover and was inseperable from him till his death in 1925. She then retired from the stage, married Herbert S Bishop and died in 1980 in Durban. Her interesting biography – written by Margot Bryant – was published in 1979 as Born To Act.

GODFREY, Freda, Peter Pan, 1920.

Bryant, 1979.

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