born Feb. 27, 1847, Coventry, Warwickshire, Eng.
died July 21, 1928, Small Hythe, Kent
English actress.
Born into a family of actors, she made her stage debut at age nine. She acted with several companies before joining Henry Irving as his leading lady (18781902), playing a variety of Shakespearean roles in a notable partnership. Her warmth, gentleness, and beauty made her one of the most popular actresses in Britain and the U.S., and she continued to act until 1925. She conducted a famous correspondence with the playwright George Bernard Shaw . The actor, stage designer, and drama theorist Gordon Craig was her son.