Anne Bracegirdle (possibly 167112 September 1748) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

actress.

Biography

Bracegirdle was born to Justinian and Martha (born Furniss) Bracegirdle in Northamptonshire. She was baptised in

Northampton Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England ...

on 15 November 1671, although her tombstone says that she died at the age of 85 (suggesting that she was born around 1663)."Anne was baptized, probably as an infant, at St Giles, Northampton, on 15 November 1671 and was about seventy-seven when she died in 1748, rather than eighty-five, as recorded on her tombstone in Westminster Abbey." J. Milling, "Bracegirdle, Anne (bap. 1671, d. 1748)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 201
accessed 1 June 2012
/ref> She was probably raised by actors

Thomas Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

and

Mary Betterton Mary Saunderson (1637–1712), later known as Mary Saunderson Betterton after her marriage to Thomas Betterton, was an actress and singer in England during the 1660s and 1690s. She is considered one of the first English actresses. Stage career ...

from an early age,J. Milling, "Bracegirdle, Anne (bap. 1671, d. 1748)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Sept 201
accessed 1 June 2012
/ref> and it is speculated that she was the "little girl" referred to several times in playbills before 1688 for the

Duke's Company The Duke's Company was a theatre company chartered by King Charles II at the start of the Restoration era, 1660. Sir William Davenant was manager of the company under the patronage of Prince James, Duke of York. During hats period, theatres b ...

, where Thomas Betterton was the big star. For this reason it has been concluded by the

Garrick Club The Garrick Club is a gentlemen's club in the heart of London founded in 1831. It is one of the oldest members' clubs in the world and, since its inception, has catered to members such as Charles Kean, Henry Irving, Herbert Beerbohm Tree, Ar ...

that 1673 is the date of her birth. Her name first appears in the

Lord Chamberlain The Lord Chamberlain of the Household is the most senior officer of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom, supervising the departments which support and provide advice to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom while also acting as the main c ...

's accounts in 1688 as a member of the

United Company The United Company was a London theatre company formed in 1682 with the merger of the King's Company and the Duke's Company. Both the Duke's and King's Companies suffered poor attendance during the turmoil of the Popish Plot period, 1678&ndash ...

(into which the Duke's Company had by then merged), and a few of her roles in the following years are known through surviving manuscript cast lists. She played Semernia in

Aphra Behn Aphra Behn (; bapt. 14 December 1640 – 16 April 1689) was an English playwright, poet, prose writer and translator from the Restoration era. As one of the first English women to earn her living by her writing, she broke cultural barrie ...

's ''The Widow Ranter'' in 1689, a

breeches role A breeches role (also pants role or trouser role, or Hosenrolle) is one in which an actress appears in male clothing. Breeches, tight-fitting knee-length pants, were the standard male garment at the time these roles were introduced. The theatric ...

, a type of role she would often return to, and was by 1690 playing parts like Lady Anne in

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Bat ...

'' and Desdemona in ''

Othello ''Othello'' (full title: ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'') is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, probably in 1603, set in the contemporary Ottoman–Venetian War (1570–1573) fought for the control of the Island of Cyp ...

''. She performed many of the lead female roles in the plays of

William Congreve William Congreve (24 January 1670 – 19 January 1729) was an English playwright and poet of the Restoration period. He is known for his clever, satirical dialogue and influence on the comedy of manners style of that period. He was also a mi ...

. Soon, she had become one of the important members of the company and an audience favourite, indicated by the frequency with which she spoke

prologue A prologue or prolog (from Greek πρόλογος ''prólogos'', from πρό ''pró'', "before" and λόγος ''lógos'', "word") is an opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details, often some earlier story that ...

s and

epilogue An epilogue or epilog (from Greek ἐπίλογος ''epílogos'', "conclusion" from ἐπί ''epi'', "in addition" and λόγος ''logos'', "word") is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature, usually used to bring closure to the w ...

s. In 1705 she played in Nicholas Rowe's tragedy '' Ulysses''. After 1705 she found a serious competitor in Anne Oldfield, then first coming into public favour. As it became apparent that audiences preferred her rival, Anne Bracegirdle quit the stage, making only one reappearance at Betterton's benefit in 1709.

Cibber's account

Colley Cibber Colley Cibber (6 November 1671 – 11 December 1757) was an English actor-manager, playwright and Poet Laureate. His colourful memoir ''Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber'' (1740) describes his life in a personal, anecdotal and even rambling ...

described Bracegirdle in his autobiography as she appeared in 1690, when he first joined the company at Drury Lane:

She had no greater Claim to Beauty than what the most desirable Brunette might pretend to. But her Youth and lively Aspect threw out such a Glow of Health and Chearfulness, that on the Stage few Spectators that were not past it could behold her without Desire. It was even a Fashion among the Gay and Young to have a Taste or Tendre for Mrs. Bracegirdle… In all the chief Parts she acted, the Desirable was so predominant, that no Judge could be cold enough to consider from what other particular Excellence she became delightful.

Cibber was smitten. He describes his own highest acting ambition (never fulfilled) as a new and inconspicuous company employee to have been that of "playing a Lover with Mrs. Bracegirdle". In 1692, the "tendre" felt by both Captain Richard Hill and the actor

William Mountfort William Mountfort (c. 1664 – 10 December 1692), English actor and dramatic writer, was the son of a Staffordshire gentleman. Biography His first stage appearance was with the Dorset Garden Theatre company about 1678, and by 1682 he was ...

, caused a celebrated tragedy. The jealous Hill and a gang of toughs led by the infamous

Lord Mohun Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun (c. 1675 – 15 November 1712) was an English politician best known for his frequent participation in duels and for his reputation as a rake. He was killed in the celebrated Hamilton–Mohun Duel in Hyde Pa ...

attempted to abduct Anne and murdered Mountfort, her presumed lover, in the street. Hill made his escape from justice, but Mohun stood trial and was acquitted. Both died violent deaths years later. It was said that the publicity assisted her career and she was still called the "celebrated virgin" in 1702. Bracegirdle made a request to be buried in

Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey, formally titled the Collegiate Church of Saint Peter at Westminster, is an historic, mainly Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is one of the Unite ...

, a wish that was fulfilled.

Selected roles

* Antelina in ''

The Injured Lovers ''The Injured Lovers; Or, The Ambitious Father'' is a 1688 tragedy by the English writer William Mountfort. It was premiered by the United Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. The original cast included Thomas Betterton as Rheusanes, Jose ...

'' by

(1688) * Semernia in ''

The Widow Ranter ''The Widdow Ranter, or, the History of Bacon in Virginia'' is a tragicomic play written by Aphra Behn and first performed posthumously in 1689. It is a highly fictionalized version of Bacon's Rebellion of 1676, and is one of the first plays to be ...

'' by

(1689) * Urania in '' Alphonso, King of Naples'' by George Powell (1690) * Biancha in ''

The Successful Strangers ''The Successful Strangers'' is a 1690 tragicomedy by the English writer William Mountfort. The original Drury Lane cast included Joseph Williams as Don Carlos, George Powell as Antonio, William Mountfort as Silvio, James Nokes James Nokes (N ...

'' by

Thomas Shadwell Thomas Shadwell ( – 19 November 1692) was an English poet and playwright who was appointed Poet Laureate in 1689. Life Shadwell was born at either Bromehill Farm, Weeting-with-Broomhill or Santon House, Lynford, Norfolk, and educated at B ...

(1690) *Cleomira in '' Distressed Innocence'' by

Elkanah Settle Elkanah Settle (1 February 1648 – 12 February 1724) was an English poet and playwright. Biography He was born at Dunstable, and entered Trinity College, Oxford, in 1666, but left without taking a degree. His first tragedy, '' Cambyses, King ...

(1690) * Maria in '' Edward III'' by

(1690) * Miranda in ''

The Mistakes ''The Mistakes'' is a 1690 tragicomedy by the English writer Joseph Harris. It was originally staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane by the United Company. The original Drury Lane cast included John Hodgson as Don Juan de Mendoza, George Pow ...

'' by Joseph Harris (1690) *Charlotte in ''

Sir Anthony Love ''Sir Anthony Love; Or, The Rambling Lady'' is a 1690 comedy play by the Irish writer Thomas Southerne. It was originally staged by the United Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane with a cast that included Susanna Mountfort in a breeches role ...

'' by

Thomas Southerne Thomas Southerne (12 February 166026 May 1746) was an Irish dramatist. Biography Thomas Southerne, born on 12 February 1660, in Oxmantown, near Dublin, was an Irish dramatist. He was the son of Francis Southerne (a Dublin brewer) and Margar ...

(1690) * Julia in ''

The English Frier ''The English Frier; Or, The Town Sparks'', sometimes spelt as ''The English Friar'', is a 1690 comedy play by the English writer John Crowne. It was originally staged by the United Company most likely at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, although ...

'' by

John Crowne John Crowne (6 April 1641 – 1712) was a British dramatist. His father "Colonel" William Crowne, accompanied the earl of Arundel on a diplomatic mission to Vienna in 1637, and wrote an account of his journey. He emigrated to Nova Scotia whe ...

(1690) * Marcelia in '' The Treacherous Brothers'' by George Powell (1690) * Emmeline in '' King Arthur'' by

John Dryden '' John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the per ...

(1691) * Tamira in '' Bussy D'Ambois'' by

Thomas D'Urfey Thomas d'Urfey (a.k.a. Tom Durfey; 165326 February 1723) was an English writer and wit. He wrote plays, songs, jokes, and poems. He was an important innovator and contributor in the evolution of the ballad opera. Life D'Urfey was born in Devonsh ...

(1691) * Mrs Sightly in ''

The Wives Excuse ''The Wives Excuse'' also ''The Wives Excuse; Or, Cuckolds Make Themselves'' is a 1691 comedy play by the Anglo-Irish writer Thomas Southerne. The title is sometimes written more grammatically as ''The Wives' Excuse''. It was originally staged a ...

'' by

(1691) * Mirtilla in '' Love for Money'' by

(1691) * Cleora in '' Cleomenes, the Spartan Hero'' by

(1692) * Rosamund in '' Henry II'' by

(1692) * Phoebe in ''

The Marriage-Hater Matched ''The Marriage-Hater Matched'' is a comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was first staged by the United Company at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in January 1692. The original cast included John Bowman as Brainless, William Mount ...

'' by

(1692) * Clara in '' The Volunteers'' by

(1692) * Araminta in ''

The Old Bachelor file:Bodleian Libraries, Playbill of Covent Garden, Monday, 9th February 1756, announcing The old batchelor &c..jpg, "The Old Bachelor" at Covent Garden in 1756 featuring Samuel Foote, Mr Sparks, Mr Ryan, Mary Elmy, Mrs Elmy... ''The Old Bachelor ...

'' by

(1693) * Lady Trickitt in '' The Maid's Last Prayer'' by

(1693) * Mariana in '' The Female Virtuosos'' by Thomas Wright (1693) *Fulvia in ''

The Richmond Heiress ''The Richmond Heiress'' is a 1693 comedy play by the English writer Thomas D'Urfey. It was staged by the United Company at the Drury Lane Theatre. The original cast included John Freeman as Charles Romance, George Bright as Sir Quibble Quere, ...

'' by

(1693) * Camilla in '' The Married Beau'' by

(1694) * Celidea in '' Love Triumphant'' by

(1694) * Clarismunda in ''

The Ambitious Slave ''The Ambitious Slave; Or, A Generous Revenge'' is a 1694 tragedy by the English writer Elkanah Settle. It was first staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane by the United Company. The original cast included John Bowman as King of Persia, John ...

'' by

(1694) * Villeria in '' The Fatal Marriage'' by

(1694) * Angelica in ''

Love for Love ''Love for Love'' is a Restoration comedy written by British playwright William Congreve. It premiered on 30 April 1695 at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre. Staged by Thomas Betterton's company the original cast included Betterton as Valenti ...

'' by

(1695) * Angelica in '' The She-Gallants'' by George Granville (1695) * Lausaria in '' Cyrus the Great'' by

John Banks (playwright) John Banks (1650–1706) was an English playwright of the Restoration era. His works concentrated on historical dramas, and his plays were twice suppressed because of their implications, or supposed implications, for the contemporaneous po ...

(1695) * Belinda in ''

The Provoked Wife ''The Provoked Wife'' (1697) is the second original comedy written by John Vanbrugh. It made its first appearance in Lincoln's Inn Fields in May, 1697. The often-repeated claim that Vanbrugh wrote part of his comedy ''The Provoked Wife'' in th ...

'' by John Vanbrugh (1696) * Camilla in '' Boadicea, Queen of Britain'' by Charles Hopkins (1697) *Mrs Beauclair in

The Innocent Mistress ''The Innocent Mistress'' is a comedy written by Mary Pix, first performed in 1697. Plot Sir Charles, a younger son with no estate, is unhappily married to the wealthier, older and "ill-bred" Lady Beauclair. Lady Beauclair is supposedly a ...

Mary Pix Mary Pix (1666 – 17 May 1709) was an English novelist and playwright. As an admirer of Aphra Behn and colleague of Susanna Centlivre, Pix has been called "a link between women writers of the Restoration and Augustan periods". Early years ...

(1697) * Placentia in ''

Beauty in Distress ''Beauty in Distress'' is a 1698 tragedy by the English writer Peter Anthony Motteux.Lowerre p.198 The original Lincoln's Inn Fields cast included Thomas Betterton as Don Vincentio, John Verbruggen as Ricardo, Edward Kynaston (actor), Edward Kyna ...

'' by

Peter Anthony Motteux Peter Anthony Motteux (born Pierre Antoine Motteux ; 25 February 1663 – 18 February 1718) was a French-born English author, playwright, and translator. Motteux was a significant figure in the evolution of English journalism in his era, as the ...

(1698) * Lucia in ''

The Squire of Alsatia ''The Squire of Alsatia'' is a 1688 comedy play by the English writer Thomas Shadwell. Alsatia was a nickname for the Whitefriars area of London, deriving from Alsace in northeastern France. A restoration comedy, it was performed at the Drury ...

'' by

(1698) * Locris in '' Friendship Improved'' by Charles Hopkins (1699) * Lovisa in ''

The False Friend ''The False Friend'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Harry Davenport and starring Robert Warwick, Gail Kane and Jack Drumier.Parish p.157 Cast * Robert Warwick as William Ramsdell * Gail Kane as Virginia Farrell * Jack Drumie ...

'' by

(1699) * Amestris in ''

The Ambitious Stepmother ''The Ambitious Stepmother'' is a 1700 tragedy by the British writer Nicholas Rowe. It was his debut play. Rowe set his play in Biblical times, but it had strong subtexts of the contemporary questions about the British succession that led to th ...

'' by Nicholas Rowe (1700) * Millamant in ''

The Way of the World ''The Way of the World'' is a play written by the English playwright William Congreve. It premiered in early March 1700 in the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields in London. It is widely regarded as one of the best Restoration comedies and is stil ...

'' by

(1700) * Guinoenda in ''

Love's Victim ''Love's Victim: or, the Queen of Wales'' is a 1701 tragedy by the English writer Charles Gildon.Marsden p.135 The original cast included Thomas Betterton as Rhesus, Mary Porter as Tyrelius, George Pack as Morganius, Barton Booth as King of Ba ...

'' by

Charles Gildon Charles Gildon (c. 1665 – 1 January 1724), was an English hack writer who was, by turns, a translator, biographer, essayist, playwright, poet, author of fictional letters, fabulist, short story author, and critic. He provided the source for m ...

(1701) * Fulvia in ''

The Ladies Visiting Day ''The Ladies Visiting Day'' is a 1701 comedy play by the English writer William Burnaby.Nicoll p.98 The original Lincoln's Inn Fields cast included Thomas Betterton as Courtine, John Verbruggen as Polidore, Thomas Doggett as Sir Testy Dolt, Ge ...

''by William Burnaby (1701) * Cytheria in ''

The Double Distress ''The Double Distress: A Tragedy'' is a 1701 play by the English writer Mary Pix. Despite its title, it is a comedy. Plot The play takes place amidst conflict between the Persians and the Medes. Leamira is the daughter of the Persian king, Dar ...

'' by

(1701) * Selima in ''

Tamerlane Timur ; chg, ''Aqsaq Temür'', 'Timur the Lame') or as ''Sahib-i-Qiran'' ( 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction'), his epithet. ( chg, ''Temür'', 'Iron'; 9 April 133617–19 February 1405), later Timūr Gurkānī ( chg, ''Temür Kür ...

'' by Nicholas Rowe (1701) * Orinda in ''

As You Find It ''As You Find It'' is a 1703 comedy play by the English writer Charles Boyle, later Earl of Orrery. His grandfather Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery had also been a playwright. In style it is much closer to traditional Restoration comedy, than th ...

'' by

Charles Boyle Charles Boyle may refer to: * Charles Boyle, 3rd Viscount Dungarvan (1639–1694), British politician * Charles Boyle, 2nd Earl of Burlington (died 1704), British politician * Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery (1674–1731), author, soldier and st ...

(1703) * Caesario in ''

Love Betrayed ''Love Betrayed'' is a 1703 comedy play by the English writer William Burnaby. It is also known by the longer title ''Love Betray'd; Or, The Agreeable Disappointment''. It was a reworking of Shakespeare's ''Twelfth Night''.Dobson p.124 The origi ...

'' by William Burnaby (1703) * Angelica in '' The Gamester'' by Susanna Centlivre (1705) * Flippanta in ''

The Confederacy The Confederate States of America (CSA), commonly referred to as the Confederate States or the Confederacy was an List of historical unrecognized states and dependencies, unrecognized Secession in the United States, breakaway republic in the ...

'' by John Vanbrugh (1705) * Semanthe in '' Ulysses'' by Nicholas Rowe (1705) * Lucindain '' The Platonick Lady'' by Susanna Centlivre (1706) * Laura in ''

Adventures in Madrid ''Adventures in Madrid'' or ''The Adventures in Madrid'' is a 1706 comedy play by the English writer Mary Pix. It was her final staged work. It premiered at the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket. The original cast featured John Freeman as Gome ...

'' by

(1706)

References

Sources

*Cibber, Colley (first published 1740, ed. Robert Lowe, 1889)
''An Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber'', vol.1

vol 2
. London. * This cites: ** Genest, ''History of the Stage'' **Colley Gibber, ''Apology'' (edited by Bellchambers) **Egerton, ''Life of Anne Oldfield'' **

Downes Downes may refer to: * Downes Sports F.C., the former name of Hinckley Downes F.C. * Downes v. Bidwell, a US Supreme Court case * Downes (surname), people with the surname ''Downes'' * USS Downes, USS ''Downes'', several United States Navy ships S ...

, ''

Roscius Anglicanus John Downes (died c. 1712) worked as a prompter at the Duke's Company, and later the United Company, for most of the Restoration period 1660–1700. His "historical review of the stage", ''Roscius Anglicanus'' (1708), is an invaluable source for ...

'' *Highfill, Philip Jr, Burnim, Kalman A., and Langhans, Edward (1973–93). ''Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800''. 16 volumes. Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Press. *Howe, Elizabeth (1992). ''The First English Actresses: Women and Drama 1660–1700''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

External links

Anne Bracegirdle (1671–1748)
at TheatreDatabase.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Bracegirdle, Anne English stage actresses 17th-century English actresses 18th-century English actresses 1671 births 1748 deaths