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Adelaide Neilson

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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ADELAIDE NEILSON (1846-1880), English actress, whose real name was Elizabeth Ann Brown, was born in Leeds, the daughter of an actress, and her childhood and early youth were passed in poverty and menial work. In 1865 she appeared in Margate as Julia in The Hunchback, a character with which her name was long to be associated. For the next few years she played at several London and provincial theatres in various parts, including Rosalind, Amy Robsart and Rebecca (in Ivanhoe ), Beatrice, Viola and Isabella (in Measure for Measure). In 1872 she visited America, where her beauty and talent made her a great favourite, and she returned year after year. She died on the 15th of August 1880. Miss Neilson was married to Philip Henry Lee, but was divorced in 1877.