Nance Oldfield

Anne Oldfield (168323 October 1730) was an English actress and one of the highest paid actresses of her time.

Early life and discovery

She was born in London in 1683. Her father was a soldier, James Oldfield. Her mother was either Anne or Elizabeth Blanchard. Her grandfather owned a tavern and left her father several properties, he however mortgaged these which resulted in Anne and her mother being placed in financial difficulty when he died young. It appears that Oldfield received some education because her biographers state that she read widely in her youth. Oldfield and her mother went to live with her aunt, Mrs Voss, in the Mitre tavern, St James. In 1699, she attracted George Farquhar's attention when he overheard her reciting lines from Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher's play '' The Scornful Lady'' (1616) in a back room of her tavern. Soon after, she was hired by Christopher Rich to join the cast of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Career

A year later she was cast in her first small role as Candiope in John Dryden's ''Secret Love; or, The Maiden Queen'' (1699). After her success in a minor role, she was given the lead in John Fletcher's ''The Pilgrim'' (1647). In the summer of 1703, Oldfield replaced Susanna Verbruggen when her contract was terminated before the company travelled to Bath to perform for Queen Anne and her court.

Oldfield became one of Drury Lane's leading actresses. Colley Cibber acknowledged that she had as much as he to do with the success of his '' The Careless Husband'' (1704), in which she created the part of Lady Modish. Speaking of her portrayal of Lady Townly in his ''The Provoked Husband'' (1728), Cibber was to say, "that here she outdid her usual Outdoing". She also played the title role in Ben Jonson's '' Epicoene'', and Celia in his '' Volpone''.

Contemporary gossip is recorded that there were rivalries between Oldfield, Anne Bracegirdle, Jane Rogers and Susannah Centlivre, all of whom were supposedly vying for the best roles. In 1706 Oldfield came into conflict with the Drury Lane's management over benefits and salary she believed she had been promised, but which the theatre refused to pay. Oldfield left and joined the competing acting company at Haymarket Theatre before returning to Drury Lane shortly after with a fresh contract and a new position as joint-sharer of the Drury Lane Theatre. On a separate occasion, Oldfield was offered to become manager of the Theatre, "but her sex was thought to be an objection to that measure" thus being asked to name her own terms to stay in her old position, Oldfield received 200 guineas salary, which was ultimately raised to 500 guineas resulting in Oldfield becoming the highest paid actress of her time.

Personal life

Oldfield began a decade-long relationship with Whig politician Arthur Maynwaring around 1700. Owing to her success, Oldfield remained financially independent from Maynwaring. He supported her career by helping her work through new roles and by writing more than a dozen prologues and epilogues for her to perform.Nicola Parsons, "Mrs. Oldfield," Mary Hays, ''Female Biography; or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women, of All Ages and Countries'' (1803). ''Chawton House Library Series: Women’s Memoirs'', ed. Gina Luria Walker, ''Memoirs of Women Writers Part III.'' Pickering & Chatto: London, 2013, vol. 10, vol. 10, 30–3, editorial notes, 548-51, on 550. When she became pregnant with their son, Arthur. Oldfield kept acting until she was physically unable, which was unusual for the time. She went back to work just three months after the birth. Oldfield arranged for her lifelong friend, Margaret Saunders, to join the acting profession.

When Maynwaring died in 1712, rumours circulated that he had died from a venereal disease that Oldfield had given to him. In order to clear both their names, she ordered an official autopsy to be performed on his body, which revealed that he had died of tuberculosis. Oldfield was three months pregnant at the time, but her child is not believed to have survived the birth.

Several years after Maynwaring's death, Oldfield began a relationship with Charles Churchill. The two lived together for many years and had a son, Charles. However, during this pregnancy, Oldfield was unable to continue acting due to her health, and was forced to leave the theatre for several months. She never fully recovered her health.

Throughout her last theatrical season she suffered from chronic pain in her abdomen. She retired from the stage in April 1730 and died from cancer of the uterus a few months later.

Memorial

Alexander Pope, in his ''Sober Advice from Horace'', wrote of her "Engaging Oldfield, who, with grace and ease, Could join the arts to ruin and to please." Oldfield had said to her maid "No, let a charming chintz and Brussels lace Wrap my cold limbs and shade my lifeless face; One would not, sure, be frightful when one's dead, And Betty give this cheek a little red."

Oldfield died on 23 October 1730 at age 47, at 60 Grosvenor Street, London. She divided her property between her two sons. Oldfield was buried in Westminster Abbey, beneath the monument to Congreve. Her partner, Churchill, applied for permission to erect a monument there to her memory, but the dean of Westminster refused it.

Significant roles

* 1699, ''Candiope'' – ''The Maiden Queen'' by John Dryden.
* 1700, ''Alinda'' - ''The Pilgrim'' by John Fletcher.
* 1701, ''Anne'' – ''The Unhappy Penitent'' by Catharine Trotter
* 1701, ''Cimene'' – ''The Generous Conqueror'' by Bevil Higgons
* 1701, ''Helen'' – ''The Virgin Prophetess'' by Elkanah Settle
* 1702, ''Camilla'' – ''The Modish Husband'' by William Burnaby
* 1702, ''Jacinta'' – '' The False Friend'' by John Vanbrugh
* 1703, ''Lucia'' – ''The Fair Example'' by Richard Estcourt
* 1703, ''Victoria'' – ''The Lying Lover'' by Richard Steele
* 1703, ''Belliza'' – ''Love's Contrivance '' by Susanna Centlivre
* 1703, ''Lucia'' – ''The Old Mode and the New'' by Thomas d'Urfey
* 1704, ''Lady Modish'' – '' The Careless Husband'' by Colley Cibber.
* 1705, ''Arabella'' – ''Hampstead Heath'' by Thomas Baker
* 1706, ''Silvia'' – '' The Recruiting Officer'' by George Farquhar
* 1706, ''Celia'' – '' Volpone'' by Ben Jonson.Chishol, Hugh, ed. (1911) "Oldfield, Anne". ''Encyclopædia Britannica''. 20 (11th ed). Cambridge University Press. p.73.
* 1706, ''Isabella'' – ''The Platonick Lady'' by Susanna Centlivre
* 1707, ''Lady Dainty'' – '' The Double Gallant'' by Colley Cibber
* 1707, ''Ethelinda'' – '' The Royal Convert'' by Nicholas Rowe
* 1707, ''A Silent Woman'' – '' Epiocene'' by Ben Jonson.
* 1707, ''Florimel -'' ''Marriage A La Mode'' by John Dryden.
*1708, ''Lady Rodomont'' – ''The Fine Lady's Airs'' by Thomas Baker
* 1708, ''Semandra'' – ''Mithridates, King of Pontus'' by Nathaniel Lee
*1709, ''Rutland'' – ''The Unhappy Favourite'' by John Banks.
*1709, ''Leonara'' – ''Sir Courtly Nice'' by John Crowne.
*1709, ''Carolina'' -''Epsom Wells'' by Thomas Shadwell.
*1709, ''Elvira'' – ''The Spanish Fryer, or The Double Discovery'' by unknown.
*1709, ''Narcissa'' – ''Love's Last Shift'' by Colley Cibber.
*1709, ''Luncinda'' – '' The Rival Fools'' by Colley Cibber
*1709, ''Maria'' – ''The Fortune Hunters, or Two Fools Well Met'' by James Carlile.
*1709, ''Lady Lurewell'' – '' The Constant Couple'', or A Trip to the Jubilee by George Farquhar.
*1709, ''Hellena'' – '' The Rover'', or The Banish'd Cavilier by Aphra Behn.
*1709, ''Estifania'' – ''Rule A Wife and Have A Wife'' by John Fletcher.
*1709, ''Mrs Sullen'' -''The Beaux' Stratagem'' by George Farquhar.
*1709, ''Widow''- '' Wit Without Money'' by John Fletcher.
*1709, ''Wanton Wife'' – ''The Wanton Wife'' by Thomas Betterton.
*1709, ''Constantina''- '' The Chances'' by John Fletcher.
*1709, ''Belinda'' – ''The Man's Bewitched'' by Susanna Centlivre.
*1711, ''Arabella'' – ''The Wife's Relief'' by Charles Johnson
*1712, ''Andromache'' – ''Distrest Mother'' by Ambrose Philips.
*1713, ''Marcia -'' '' Cato'' by Joseph Addison.
*1714, ''Eriphile'' – '' The Victim'' by Charles Johnson
*1714, Jane Shore'' – '' Jane Shore'' by Nicholas Rowe
*1715, ''Lady Jane Grey'' – ''Lady Jane Grey'' by Nicholas Rowe
*1716, ''Lady Trueman'' – '' The Drummer'' by Joseph Addison
* 1716, ''Leonora'' – ''The Cruel Gift'' by Susanna Centlivre
*1717, ''Atalida'' – ''The Sultaness'' by Charles Johnson
*1717, ''Maria'' – ''The Non-Juror'' by Colley Cibber
*1717, ''Rosalinda'' – '' Lucius'' by Delarivier Manley
*1717, ''Mrs Townley'' – ''Three Hours After Marriage'' by John Gay
*1719, ''Celona'' – ''The Spartan Dame'' by Thomas Southerne
*1719, ''Sophronia'' – ''The Masquerade'' by Charles Johnson
*1719, ''Mandane'' – ''Busiris, King of Egypt'' by Edward Young
* 1721, ''Sophronia'' – ''The Refusal'' by Colley Cibber
*1722, ''Mrs Watchit'' – '' The Artifice'' by Susanna Centlivre
*1722, ''Indiana'' – '' The Conscious Lovers'' by Richard Steele
* 1723, ''Margaret'' – '' Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester'' by Ambrose Philips
*1724, ''Cylene'' – '' The Captives'' by John Gay
*1724, ''Cleopatra'' – '' Caesar in Egypt'' by Colley Cibber
* 1727, ''Amoret'' – ''The Rival Modes'' by James Moore Smythe
* 1728, ''Lady Townly'' – ''The Provoked Husband'' by Colley Cibber]
* 1728, ''Lady Matchless'' – ''Love in Several Masques'' by Henry Fielding
* 1730, ''Clarinda'' – ''The Humours of Oxford'' by James Miller
* 1730, ''Sophonisba'' in '' Sophonisba'' by James Thomson

References

*

Notes

Further reading

*Anonymous. ''Authentick Memoirs of the Life of that Celebrated Actress, Mrs. Ann Oldfield, Containing a Genuine Account of Her Transactions from Her Infancy to the Time of Her Decease,'' 4th edition. London: no publisher, 1730.
*Egerton, William. ''Faithful Memoirs of the Life, Amours and Performances of that justly Celebrated, and most Eminent Actress of her Time, Mrs. Anne Oldfield. Interspersed with Several Other Dramatic Memoirs''. London: no publisher, 1731.
*Engel, Laura and Elaine M. McGirr, eds. ''Stage Mothers: Women, Work, and the Theater, 1660–1830''. Lenham, Maryland: Bucknell University Press, 2014.
*Gore-Browne, Robert. ''Gay was the Pit: the Life and Times of Anne Oldfield, Actress (1683–1730).'' London: Max Reinhardt, 1957.
*Hays, Mary. "Mrs. Oldfield". ''Female Biography; or Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women of all Ages and Countries'' (6 volumes). London: R. Phillips, 1803, vol. 6, 28–31.
*Lafler, Joanne. ''The Celebrated Mrs. Oldfield: the Life and Art of an Augustan Actress''. Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois University Press, 1989.
*Melville, Lewis. ''Stage Favourites of the Eighteenth Century.'' Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday Doran & Company, Inc., 1929.
*McGirr, Elaine. ''Eighteenth Century Characters : a Guide to the Literature of The Age.'' Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
*Nussbaum, Felicity. ''Rival Queens: Actresses, Performance, and the Eighteenth-Century British Theater.'' Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2010.
*Parsons, Nicola. "Mrs. Oldfield." Mary Hays, ''Female Biography; or, Memoirs of Illustrious and Celebrated Women, of All Ages and Countries'' (1803). ''Chawton House Library Series: Women’s Memoirs'', ed. Gina Luria Walker, ''Memoirs of Women Writers Part III. P''ickering & Chatto: London, 2013, vol. 10, 30–3, editorial notes, 548–51.
Project Continua
– at ProjectContinua.org
*Ritchie, Fiona. ''Women and Shakespeare in the Eighteenth Century''. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2014.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oldfield, Anne
1683 births
1730 deaths
English stage actresses
18th-century English actresses
British tailors
Actresses from London
Burials at Westminster Abbey
Deaths from uterine cancer
Deaths from cancer in England