Anne Shadwell was an English stage actor of the seventeenth century. She was one of the first English actresses to appear on stage following the Restoration She was one of six actors recruited in 1660 by William Davenant for the new Duke's Company, acting under her maiden name Anne Gibbs. Sometime between 1663 and 1667 she married the playwright Thomas Shadwell with whom she had four children. While some sources have her acting late into the century, it may be she effectively retired with the formation of the United Company in 1682. Her appearances had decreased since 1672. Following her husband's death in 1692 she was left the bulk of his estate. She had an investment in the

Drury Lane Theatre The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, commonly known as Drury Lane, is a West End theatre and Grade I listed building in Covent Garden, London, England. The building faces Catherine Street (earlier named Bridges or Brydges Street) and backs onto Dru ...

in 1709, when she joined a petition to Queen Anne by the manager Christopher Rich, but nothing is known about her after this point.Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.275-277

Selected roles

* Lucia in '' The Cutter of Coleman Street'' by Abraham Cowley (1661) * Decio in ''

The Slighted Maid ''The Slighted Maid'' is a 1663 comedy play by the English writer Robert Stapylton. It was staged by the Duke's Company at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London. The cast included Henry Harris as Salerno, Thomas Betterton as Iberio, Matthe ...

'' by

Robert Stapylton Sir Robert Stapylton or Stapleton (died 1669) was an English courtier, dramatic poet and translator. Life Stapylton was the third son of Richard Stapleton of Carlton by Snaith, Yorkshire, by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Henry Pierrepont of H ...

(1662) * Heraclia in ''

The Rivals ''The Rivals'' is a comedy of manners by Richard Brinsley Sheridan in five acts which was first performed at Covent Garden Theatre on 17 January 1775. The story has been updated frequently, including a 1935 musical and a 1958 episode of th ...

'' by William Davenant (1664) * Cleora in ''

Mustapha Mustafa ( ar, مصطفى , Muṣṭafā) is one of the names of Prophet Muhammad, and the name means "chosen, selected, appointed, preferred", used as an Arabic given name and surname. Mustafa is a common name in the Muslim world. Given name ...

'' by Roger Boyle (1665) * Emelia in ''

The Sullen Lovers ''The Sullen Lovers; Or, The Impertinents'' is a 1668 comedy play by the English writer Thomas Shadwell, inspired by Molière's ''Les Fâcheux''. It was staged by the Duke's Company at the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre in London. The cast included ...

'' by Thomas Shadwell (1668) * Lady Cockwood in '' She Would If She Could'' by George Etherege (1668) * Claina '' The Women's Conquest'' by Edward Howard (1670) * Irene in '' Charles VIII of France'' by John Crowne (1671) * Joanna in '' Juliana'' by John Crowne (1671) * Celinda in '' The Six Days' Adventure'' by Edward Howard (1671) * Caelia in '' The Fatal Jealousy'' by Henry Nevil Payne (1672) * Lucia in '' Epsom Wells'' by Thomas Shadwell (1672) * Rose in '' The Morning Ramble'' by Henry Nevil Payne (1672) * Clara in '' The Cheats of Scapin'' by Thomas Otway (1676) * Arbella in '' Madam Fickle'' by Thomas D'Urfey (1676) * Lady Gimcrack in '' The Virtuoso'' by Thomas Shadwell (1676) * Beatrice in '' The Wrangling Lovers'' by Edward Ravenscroft (1676) * Mrs Essence in '' Tom Essence'' by Thomas Rawlins (1676) * Duchess of Eboli in ''

Don Carlos, Prince of Spain ''Don Carlos, Prince of Spain'' is a 1676 tragedy by the English writer Thomas Otway. It portrays the relationship between Philip II of Spain and his son and heir Carlos, Prince of Asturias. It was staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Gard ...

'' by Thomas Otway (1676) * Clarina in '' The Counterfeit Bridegroom'' by Aphra Behn (1677) * Victoria in ''

Friendship in Fashion ''Friendship in Fashion'' is a 1678 comedy play by the English writer Thomas Otway. It was first staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London. It was part of the trend of Restoration Comedy that flourished during the era. ...

'' by Thomas Otway (1678) * Maundy in ''

Sir Patient Fancy ''Sir Patient Fancy: A Comedy,'' is a comedic play written by Aphra Behn, first performed in 1678. It is Behn's first overtly political play. It was staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London with a cast that included Nel ...

'' by Aphra Behn (1678) * Flora in '' The Counterfeits'' by John Leanerd (1678) * Lucinda in ''

The Loving Enemies ''The Loving Enemies'' is a 1680 comedy play by the English writer Lewis Maidwell. It was first staged by the Duke's Company at the Dorset Garden Theatre in London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, l ...

'' by

Lewis Maidwell Lewis Maidwell (1650–1716) was an English writer and educator. Born in Northamptonshire he attended Westminster School and graduated from Cambridge University in 1672. He ran a school on King Street in London, and was also a tutor to the sons ...

(1680)

References

Bibliography

* Highfill, Philip H, Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans, Edward A. ''A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660–1800, Volume 13''. SIU Press, 1991. * Howe, Elizabeth. ''The First English Actresses: Women and Drama, 1660–1700''. Cambridge University Press, 1992. 17th-century English people English stage actresses 17th-century English actresses Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Actresses from London {{England-stage-actor-stub