Isabella Glyn
Encyclopedia
Isabella Glyn Dallas was a well-known Victorian
-era Shakespearean actress.
on 22 May 1823. She made her first stage appearance in Manchester
under her mother's maiden name of Glyn on 8 November 1847, where she appeared as Constance in Shakespeare's King John. She next debuted at the Olympic in London
as Lady Macbeth on 28 January 1848. She played at Sadler's Wells Theatre
from 1848–1851; and gave her first public Shakespearian reading September 1851. She appeared at Drury Lane
as Bianca in Fazio on 26 December 1851. She made subsequent appearances at St. James' in 1854, at Standard in 1855, at Sadler's Wells Theatre
in 1859, and Princess's Theatre in 1867. She also gave recitals at Boston
, U.S.A in 1870; and, she gave Shakespearian readings at Steinway hall and at St. James in 1878 and 1879. She was at the end of her career a theatrical instructor; and, the latest adherent of the Kemble school of acting. Her portrait appeared frequently in many popular magazines and journals during her lifetime. She was usually known on sight whenever she appeared in public.
She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Edward Wills. This marriage, however, was brief due to her husband's premature death. Her second marriage was to the notable The Times
journalist, Eneas Sweetland Dallas to whom she was married in Glasgow
in December 1853. They had a second wedding in London
on 12 July 1855. They were divorced on her petition on 10 May 1874. It was a source of much scandal at the time. Shortly after her case came to trial, she was imprisoned at Holloway
for contempt of court in declining to give up documents relating to her divorce case. She was released from custody on 28 June 1879. The prison at Holloway was the same prison that held Oscar Wilde
during his incarceration.
Isabella Glyn died of cancer at 13 Mount St. Grover Sq., London on 18 May 1889. She was 66 years old at the time of her death.
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
-era Shakespearean actress.
Life
Isabella Glyn Dallas was born in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on 22 May 1823. She made her first stage appearance in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
under her mother's maiden name of Glyn on 8 November 1847, where she appeared as Constance in Shakespeare's King John. She next debuted at the Olympic in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
as Lady Macbeth on 28 January 1848. She played at Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
from 1848–1851; and gave her first public Shakespearian reading September 1851. She appeared at Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
as Bianca in Fazio on 26 December 1851. She made subsequent appearances at St. James' in 1854, at Standard in 1855, at Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre
Sadler's Wells Theatre is a performing arts venue located in Rosebery Avenue, Clerkenwell in the London Borough of Islington. The present day theatre is the sixth on the site since 1683. It consists of two performance spaces: a 1,500 seat main auditorium and the Lilian Baylis Studio, with extensive...
in 1859, and Princess's Theatre in 1867. She also gave recitals at Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, U.S.A in 1870; and, she gave Shakespearian readings at Steinway hall and at St. James in 1878 and 1879. She was at the end of her career a theatrical instructor; and, the latest adherent of the Kemble school of acting. Her portrait appeared frequently in many popular magazines and journals during her lifetime. She was usually known on sight whenever she appeared in public.
She was married twice. Her first marriage was to Edward Wills. This marriage, however, was brief due to her husband's premature death. Her second marriage was to the notable The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
journalist, Eneas Sweetland Dallas to whom she was married in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in December 1853. They had a second wedding in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 12 July 1855. They were divorced on her petition on 10 May 1874. It was a source of much scandal at the time. Shortly after her case came to trial, she was imprisoned at Holloway
Holloway (HM Prison)
HM Prison Holloway is a closed category prison for adult women and Young Offenders, located in the Holloway area of the London Borough of Islington, in north and Inner London, England...
for contempt of court in declining to give up documents relating to her divorce case. She was released from custody on 28 June 1879. The prison at Holloway was the same prison that held Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
during his incarceration.
Isabella Glyn died of cancer at 13 Mount St. Grover Sq., London on 18 May 1889. She was 66 years old at the time of her death.