Edith Wynne Matthison (November 23, 1875 – September 23, 1955) was an

Anglo-American Anglo-American can refer to: * the Anglosphere (the Anglo-American world) * Anglo-American, something of, from, or related to Anglo-America ** the Anglo-Americans demographic group in Anglo-America * Anglo American plc Anglo American plc is a ...

stage actress An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

who also appeared in two silent films.

Early life

She was born on November 23, 1875, in England, the daughter of Kate Wynne Matthison and Henry Matthison. Her aunt was Welsh singer Sarah Edith Wynne. Matthison was educated in King Edward's Grammar School and Midland Institute, England.

Career

She began at age 21 to appear in musical comedy, later joining

Ben Greet Sir Philip Barling Greet (24 September 1857 – 17 May 1936), known professionally as Ben Greet, was a British William Shakespeare, Shakespearean actor, director, impresario and actor-manager. Early life The younger son of Captain William Gre ...

's company, playing leading parts in ''The Three Musketeers'' and ''Money''. Matthison specialized in Shakespeare and classic drama almost from the start of her career. She was acting in the same play, ''

The Merchant of Venice ''The Merchant of Venice'' is a play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. A merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan taken out on behalf of his dear friend, Bassanio, and provided by a ...

'', with Sir

Henry Irving Sir Henry Irving (6 February 1838 – 13 October 1905), christened John Henry Brodribb, sometimes known as J. H. Irving, was an English stage actor in the Victorian era, known as an actor-manager because he took complete responsibility ( ...

the night he died. Irving nearly died in Matthison's arms. She appeared in Greek and mystery plays, old English comedies, and modern plays. In the United States in 1904 she appeared in Goldsmith's '' She Stoops to Conquer''.

Personal life

While at school, Matthison had a romantic relationship with fellow student and later celebrated poet

Edna St. Vincent Millay Edna St. Vincent Millay (February 22, 1892 – October 19, 1950) was an American lyric poetry, lyrical poet and playwright. Millay was a renowned social figure and noted Feminism, feminist in New York City during the Roaring Twenties and beyond. ...

. Matthison married the playwright Charles Rann Kennedy in 1898, acted in many of his plays, and advised him during their development. A happy couple who enjoyed a long marriage of 50 years, they had no children. They both taught at Bennett Junior College in

Millbrook, New York Millbrook is a Administrative divisions of New York#Village, village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. Millbrook is located in the Hudson Valley, on the east side of the Hudson River, north of New York City. Millbrook is near the cent ...

. At one time her niece, Gladys Edith Wynne, was married to the stage and silent film star

Milton Sills Milton George Gustavus Sills (January 12, 1882 – September 15, 1930) was an American stage and film actor of the early twentieth century. Biography Sills was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a wealthy family. He was the son of William Henr ...

Death

Matthison died of a stroke in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

on September 23, 1955.Edith Wynne Matthison
page at ''North American Theatre Online''

Filmography

References

External links

* *
Portraits of Matthison in the Digital Gallery
Billy Rose Theatre Division,

New York Public Library for the Performing Arts The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, is located at 40 Lincoln Center Plaza, in the Lincoln Center complex on the Upper West Side in Manhattan, New York City. Situated between the Metropolitan O ...

selected portraits of Edith Wynne Matthison
Wayback Machine)
Edith Wynne Matthison
at ''North American Theatre Online'' *
Press Photo 1919
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthison, Edith Wynne 1875 births 1955 deaths Burials at Inglewood Park Cemetery 19th-century British actresses 20th-century British actresses English emigrants to the United States British stage actresses Actresses from Birmingham, West Midlands