George Anne Bellamy

George Anne Bellamy
by F Lindo
Born 23 April, 1727
County Fingal
Died 16 February, 1788
London
Nationality Ireland
Employer Drury Lane Theatre

George Anne Bellamy (née O'Hara; 23 April 1727 – 16 February 1788) was an Irish actress. She took leading roles at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Biography

Bellamy was born, by her own account, at Fingal, Ireland. "George Anne" was a name given by mistake for Georgiana. She was the illegitimate daughter of James O'Hara, 2nd Baron Tyrawley, and was educated by him.[1]

David Garrick and George Anne Bellamy in "Romeo and Juliet", Act V, Scene iii

Bellamy chose to live with her mother, she made the acquaintance of Mrs. Woffington and other actors and was engaged at Covent Garden to play Monimia in The Orphan (November, 1744). Her success was rapid, participating in the rivalry for popular favor in Romeo and Juliet in 1750, playing with Garrick at Drury Lane,[2]while Barry and Mrs. Cibber played at Covent Garden. She was thought the more charming of the Juliets. Mrs. Bellamy was popular and she was received in the best society. She forfeited her reputation by her liaisons.[1]

She lost her beauty early, and her later life was unhappy due to her extravagance and recklessness. Her last appearance was at Drury Lane on 24 May 1785 in her own benefit concert. She was unable to act, but spoke a short address to the audience.[1] The same year she published "An Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy" in six volumes.[3] The salacious work was said to be ghost written by Alexander Bicknell.[4]

She died in poverty in 1788[5] in Edinburgh.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The New International Encyclopædia - Bellamy, George Anne
  2. ↑ "David Garrick and George Anne Bellamy in "Romeo and Juliet", Act V, Scene iii - Benjamin Wilson - Google Arts & Culture". Google Cultural Institute. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  3. ↑ George Anne Bellamy, An Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy, late of Covent Garden Theatre, Written by Herself (six volumes, London, 1785)
  4. ↑ Webb, Alfred. A Compendium of Irish Biography.
  5. ↑ "CollectionsOnline | G0054". garrick.ssl.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-07-16.
  6. ↑ "George Anne Bellamy". www.libraryireland.com. Retrieved 2018-07-16.

References

  •  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Gilman, D. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, F. M., eds. (1905). "Bellamy, George Anne". New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead. This work in turn cites:
    • George Anne Bellamy, An Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy, late of Covent Garden Theatre, Written by Herself (six volumes, London, 1785)
    • Matthews and Hutton, Actors and Actresses of Great Britain and the United States (New York, 1886)
    • Galt, John, Lives of the Players (London, 1831)
  • Wikisource "Bellamy, George Anne". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911.
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