English actress noted for her virtue and her charity.
Background
Anne Bracegirdle was born in the Midlands about 1663. The exact place and date of her birth are not known. She was entrusted to the care of Thomas Betterton and his wife. Her theatrical career began at the age of six, when she played the role of the page in Thomas Otway's The Orphan at the Duke's Theatre in Dorset Garden.
In 1695 she moved with Betterton and his followers to Lincoln's Inn Fields.
She retired from the stage in 1707 when, in order to decide whether she or Mrs. Oldfield was the more popular actress, they both played Mrs. Brittle in Betterton's Amorous Widow on two successive nights. The public decided in favor of Mrs. Oldfield, and that was the end of Anne Bracegirdle's stage career. It was said that she had secretly married Congreve, who left her a legacy.
Career
Her theatrical career began at the age of six, when she played the role of the page in Thomas Otway's The Orphan at the Duke's Theatre in Dorset Garden. In 1688 she played the part of Lucia in Thomas Shadwell's Squire of Alsatia. She also appeared at the Theatre Royal as Maria in William Mountfort's Edward III and as Emmeline in John Dryden's King Arthur.
In 1693 she appeared for the first time in a William Congreve play, when she took the role of Araminta in The Old Bachelor.
She first played her favorite role, that of Angelica in Congreve's Love for Love at Lincoln's Inn Fields.
She also distinguished herself in such roles as Belinda in Sir John Vanbrugh's The Provoked Wife and Almeria in Congreve's Mourning Bride.
Connections
It was said that she had secretly married Congreve, who left her a legacy.
