Elizabeth H. "Cissie" Sewell (born about 1893 – died after 1954) was an English-born stage actress, dancer, and ballet mistress, wife of Irish-born Canadian performer Cyril Biddulph.

Early life

Sewell was born in London. She trained as a dancer with

Adeline Genée Dame Adeline Genée DBE (born Anina Kirstina Margarete Petra Jensen; 6 January 1878 – 23 April 1970) was a Danish-British ballet dancer. Early years Anina Kirstina Margarete Petra Jensen was born in Hinnerup north of Aarhus, Denmark. ...

, and later with William C. Zerffi. Sewelltempleton

Career

Sewell appeared on the London stage as a child in ''Alice Through the Looking Glass'' (1903–1904), and created dances for the London production of the musical ''

Kissing Time ''Kissing Time'', and an earlier version titled ''The Girl Behind the Gun'', are musical comedies with music by Ivan Caryll, book and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, and additional lyrics by Clifford Grey. The story is based on the 191 ...

'' (1919). Her Broadway credits included roles in ''The Bachelor Belles'' (1910), ''

A Winsome Widow ''A Winsome Widow'' is a 1912 musical produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr., which was a revised version of Charles Hale Hoyt's 1891 hit, ''A Trip to Chinatown'', with a score by Raymond Hubbell. History The show debuted at the Moulin Rouge on April ...

'' (1912), ''The Girl from Montmartre'' (1912–1913), '' The Marriage Market'' (1913), '' The Girl from Utah'' (1914), '' Hitchy-Koo'' (1917), ''Her Regiment'' (1917), ''The Girl Behind the Gun'' (1918–1919), ''Miss Millions'' (1919–1920), and ''Honey Girl'' (1920). Off-stage, Sewell endorsed musical instruments, and worked with playwright

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time'' magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and ...

, music director Elsie April, and producer

Charles B. Cochran Sir Charles Blake Cochran (25 September 1872 31 January 1951), generally known as C. B. Cochran, was an English theatrical manager and impresario. He produced some of the most successful musical revues, musicals and plays of the 1920s and 193 ...

, especially as ballet mistress on the American and Australian productions of '' Bitter Sweet''. She was also ballet mistress for a London production of ''Lights Up!'' in 1940. "Cissie's memory was fantastic," recalled Noël Coward in his autobiography. "In addition to her other virtues, an outspoken critical faculty allied to the kindest heart imaginable." She and her younger sister Georgie toured as a dancing act together. A third Sewell sister, Marie, was also an actress.

Personal life

Sewell married Cyril Buddulph in 1912. He died in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, in August 1918; he was a lieutenant in

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI, generally referred to as the Patricia's) is one of the three Regular Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed in 1914, it is named for Princess Patrici ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sewell, Cissie English actresses English dancers