Dame Ellen Terry, GBE (27 February 1847 – 21 July 1928), was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain.

Born into a family of actors, Terry began performing as a child, acting in Shakespeare plays in London, and toured throughout the British provinces in her teens. At 16 she married the 46-year-old artist George Frederic Watts, but they separated within a year. She soon returned to the stage but began a relationship with the architect Edward William Godwin and retired from the stage for six years. She resumed acting in 1874 and was immediately acclaimed for her portrayal of roles in Shakespeare and other classics.

In 1878 she joined Henry Irving's company as his leading lady, and for more than the next two decades she was considered the leading Shakespearean and comic actress in Britain. Two of her most famous roles were Portia in The Merchant of Venice and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. She and Irving also toured with great success in America and Britain.

In 1903 Terry took over management of London's Imperial Theatre, focusing on the plays of George Bernard Shaw and Henrik Ibsen. The venture was a financial failure, and Terry turned to touring and lecturing. She continued to find acting success until 1920, while also appearing in films until 1922. Her career lasted nearly seven decades.

Biography

Dame Ellen Terry est la mère d'Edward Gordon Craig, la sœur de l'acteur Fred Terry et la grand-tante de Sir John Gielgud.
Née à Coventry en Grande Bretagne, elle est la troisième enfant survivante d'une famille de comédiens. Ses parents, Benjamin (1818-96) et Sarah (née Ballard, 1819-92), étaient tous les deux comédiens dans une compagnie basée à Portsmouth et avaient onze enfants. Seulement cinq deviendront des comédiens.