Elizabeth Heard (born c.1775) was an English stage actress. She was born in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

the daughter of William Heard, a

physician A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...

and

playwright A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays. Etymology The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...

, and his wife Ann Heard, an actress. Elizabeth made her stage debut at the

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dr ...

as a child actor in 1782, where he mother was employed. She often played young male roles such as the

Duke of York Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of English (later British) monarchs. The equivalent title in the Scottish peerage was Du ...

in ''

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 Battl ...

'' and

Prince Arthur Prince Arthur may refer to: * Arthur I, Duke of Brittany (1187-1203), nephew and possible heir of Richard I of England * Arthur, Prince of Wales (1486–1502), eldest son Henry VII of England * Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1850� ...

in ''

King John King John may refer to: Rulers * John, King of England (1166–1216) * John I of Jerusalem (c. 1170–1237) * John Balliol, King of Scotland (c. 1249–1314) * John I of France (15–20 November 1316) * John II of France (1319–1364) * John I o ...

''. As well as appearing as a member of the company at Drury Lane, she also began summer stints at the

Haymarket Haymarket may refer to: Places Australia * Haymarket, New South Wales, area of Sydney, Australia Germany * Heumarkt (KVB), transport interchange in Cologne on the site of the Heumarkt (literally: hay market) Russia * Sennaya Square (''Hay Squ ...

from 1789 gradually playing more mature and important roles. In 1801 she left the Drury Lane company and later acted in Newcastle.Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.227

Selected roles

* Laura in ''

The Family Party The Family Party was a political party in New Zealand. It described itself as a Christian party.George Colman the Younger George Colman (21 October 1762 – 17 October 1836), known as "the Younger", was an English dramatist and miscellaneous writer. He was the son of George Colman the Elder. Life He passed from Westminster School to Christ Church, Oxford, and ...

(1782) * Lady Bridget Squander in '' Next Door Neighbours'' by

Elizabeth Inchbald Elizabeth Inchbald (née Simpson, 15 October 1753 – 1 August 1821) was an English novelist, actress, dramatist, and translator. Her two novels, '' A Simple Story'' and '' Nature and Art'', have received particular critical attention. Life Bo ...

(1791) * Louisa Fairfax in '' Cross Partners'' by

(1792) * Dian in '' The London Hermit'' by John O'Keeffe (1793) * Lucy in ''

False Colours ''False Colours'' is a Regency romance novel by Georgette Heyer Georgette Heyer (; 16 August 1902 – 4 July 1974) was an English novelist and short-story writer, in both the Regency romance and detective fiction genres. Her writing c ...

'' by Edward Morris (1793) * Hannah in ''

The Wedding Day ''The Wedding Day'' (Swedish: ''Brollopsdagen'') is a 1960 Swedish comedy film directed by Kenne Fant and starring Max von Sydow, Bibi Andersson and Edvin Adolphson.Qvist & Von Bagh p.37 The film's sets were designed by the art director Bibi Lin ...

'' by

(1794) * Attendant in '' Vortigern and Rowena'' by

William Henry Ireland William Henry Ireland (1775–1835) was an English forger of would-be Shakespearean documents and plays. He is less well known as a poet, writer of gothic novels and histories. Although he was apparently christened William-Henry, he was known a ...

(1796) * Abra in ''

Almeyda, Queen of Granada ''Almeyda, Queen of Granada'' is a 1796 tragedy play by the British writer Sophia Lee. The original Drury Lane cast included John Palmer as Abdallah, James Aickin as Ramirez, Richard Wroughton as Orasmyn, John Philip Kemble as Alonzo, Thomas Cau ...

'' by

Sophia Lee Sophia Lee (1750 – 13 March 1824) was an English novelist, dramatist and educator. She was a formative writer of Gothic fiction. She and her sister Harriet also wrote a number of ''Canterbury Tales'' (1797). Life and literary production She ...

(1796) * Violante in '' The Inquisitor'' by Thomas Holcroft (1798) *Antonia in '' Aurelio and Miranda'' by

James Boaden James Boaden (23 May 1762 – 16 February 1839) was an English biographer, dramatist, and journalist. Biographer He was the son of William Boaden, a merchant in the Russia trade. He was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland, on 23 May 1762, and at ...

(1798) * Teresa in ''

The Castle of Montval ''The Castle of Montval'' is a tragedy by the British writer Thomas Sedgwick Whalley. It was first published in 1781, but wasn't staged in London's West End until 23 April 1799 when it appeared at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane where it succeeded ...

'' by

Thomas Sedgwick Whalley Thomas Sedgwick Whalley (1746–1828) was an English cleric, poet and traveller. Life Born in Cambridge, he was the third son of John Whalley, Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, who married the only child of Francis Squire, canon and chancellor o ...

(1799) * Countess Freberg in '' De Monfort'' by Joanna Baillie (1800) * Emma in ''

Adelaide Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...

'' by Henry James Pye (1800)

References

Bibliography

* Highfill, Philip H., Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans Edward A. ''A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Volume 7, Habgood to Houbert: Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800''. SIU Press, 1982''. British stage actresses 18th-century British actresses 19th-century British actresses 1770s births Year of death unknown Actresses from London {{England-stage-actor-stub