Edith Cole (27 May 1870 – 7 June 1927) was a British stage actress. Edith Cole was born on 27 May 1870 in England, the daughter of Charles Cole. Cole made her stage debut in December 1889 at 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 ...

as a housemaid in the pantomime '' Jack and the Beanstalk.'' She appeared as Marianne in an 1894 revival of '' The Two Orphans'' at the Adelphi Theatre. One of her most successful roles was as Josephine in the

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

ic drama ''A Royal Divorce'' by

W. G. Wills William Gorman Wills (28 January 182813 December 1891), usually known as W. G. Wills, was an Irish dramatist, novelist and painter. Early life and career Wills was born at Blackwell lodge in the neighbourhood of Kilmurry, County Kilkenny, Ire ...

, and she reprised her role many times over the years. The play was promoted by impresario William Wallace Kelly, Cole's husband, and was his most successful production. ''A Royal Divorce'' is mentioned repeatedly by James Joyce in '' Finnegans Wake,'' and it is likely Joyce saw Cole's performance. Another success for Cole was her role as Frances Vere in ''

The Worst Woman in London ''The Worst Woman in London'' is an 1899 English melodrama play about a manipulative woman. It was highly popular particularly in the early years of the 20th century. It was performed on Broadway in 1903, with Nora Dunblane in the title role,

'' (1903). She also wrote and appeared as Margaret Rossiter Strickland in ''The Fires of Youth'' (1919). Cole was an ardent anti-vivisectionist and

animal welfare Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevity ...

promoter. She and her husband opened the "Edith Cole Home for Dogs" in Liverpool for the

National Canine Defence League Dogs Trust, known until 2003 as the National Canine Defence League, is a British animal welfare charity and humane society which specialises in the well-being of dogs. It is the largest dog welfare charity in the United Kingdom, caring for ove ...

. She wrote a book, ''Scarlet and Grey'' (1915)'','' and donated the proceeds to the Blue Cross to assist horses wounded during World War I. Edith Cole died on 7 June 1927 as a result of burns sustained after she cleaned a pair of gloves with petrol.

References

External links

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Edith Cole on Great War Theatre
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cole, Edith Created via preloaddraft 1870 births 1927 deaths British actresses