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Harriette Deborah Lacy

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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HARRIETTE DEBORAH LACY (1807-1874), English actress, was born in London, the daughter of a tradesman named Taylor. Her first appearance on the stage was at Bath in 1827 as Julia in The Rivals, and she was immediately given leading parts there in both comedy and tragedy. Her first London appearance was in 1830 as Nina, in Dimond's Carnival of Naples. Her Rosalind, Aspatia (to Macready's Melantius) in The Bridal, and Lady Teazle to the Charles Surface of Walter Lacy (1809-1898) - to whom she was married in 1839 - confirmed her position and popularity. She was the original Helen in The Hunchback (1832), and also created Nell Gwynne in Jerrold's play of that name, and the heroine in his Housekeeper. She was considered the first Ophelia of her day. She retired in 1848.