Gertrude Elliott (December 14, 1874 — December 24, 1950), later Lady Forbes-Robertson, was an American stage actress, part of an extended family of theatre professionals including her husband, Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, and her elder sister, Maxine Elliott.
May Gertrude Dermot (or Dermott) was born in Rockland, Maine,[1] a daughter of Thomas and Adelaide Hall Dermot (or Dermott). Her father was a sea captain born in Ireland, and her mother had been a schoolteacher. Her older sister Maxine left the household for New York City by age 16, and Gertrude soon followed. Both of them began using the surname "Elliott" as young women.[why?][citation needed]
Career
Gertrude Elliott Forbes-Robertson as Cleopatra
Elliott's career on stage began in 1894, with a role in Oscar Wilde's A Woman of No Importance, in a company that was touring New York state.[2] Both Elliotts joined a company in San Francisco that toured Australia in 1896. The company was run by Nat C. Goodwin, an actor who soon married Maxine Elliott. Their company went to London in 1899, and the next year Gertrude was hired into the company of Johnston Forbes-Robertson; Gertrude Elliott and Forbes-Robertson married at the end of 1900, and continued to work together predominantly in Shakespearean works for much of their careers.[3]
Away from the stage, Gertrude Elliott starred with her husband in a silent film version of Hamlet in 1913, directed by their friend J. H. Ryley. She also appeared in a 1917 silent film, Masks and Faces. Gertrude Elliott was a co-founder and president of the Actresses' Franchise League.[4] During World War I she managed the "Shakespeare Hut" in Bloomsbury, a project of the YMCA for entertaining and raising morale among war workers.[5] In 1923, New Zealand gave Gertrude Elliott an award for her work for ANZAC troops during the war.[6]
Personal life
Elliott married English actor Johnston Forbes-Robertson in 1900. They had four daughters, including aircraft designer Maxine (Blossom) Miles, writer Diana Forbes-Robertson, and actress Jean Forbes-Robertson. Johnston was knighted in 1913, making Gertrude "Lady Forbes-Robertson" from that time.[7] She was widowed when her husband died in 1937, and Gertrude died in 1950, aged 76 years. Her grandchildren include actress Joanna Van Gyseghem.[8]
There is a plaque marking the birthplace of the Elliott sisters in the Trackside Station in Rockland, Maine.[9]
References
^James Fisher, Felicia Hardison Londré, The A to Z of American Theatre: Modernism (Scarecrow Press 2009): p. 151; ISBN9780810870475
^Martin Banham, The Cambridge Guide to Theatre (Cambridge University Press 1995): 328. ISBN9780521434379
^Clara M. Behringer, "Gertrude Elliott", in Edward T. James, Janet Wilson James, Paul S. Boyer, eds., Notable American Women 1607–1950: A Biographical Dictionary, Volume 3 (Harvard University Press 1971): 570-572. ISBN9780674627345
^Elizabeth Crawford, The Women's Suffrage Movement: A Reference Guide 1866-1928 (Routledge 2003): 4. ISBN9781135434021
^Ailsa Grant Ferguson, "Lady Forbes-Robertson's War Work: Gertrude Elliott and the Shakespeare Hut Performances, 1916-1919" in Gordon McMullan, Lena Cowen Orlin, Virginia Mason Vaughan, eds., Women Making Shakespeare: Text, Reception and Performance (A&C Black 2013). ISBN9781472539373
^Ailsa Grant Ferguson, "Entertaining the Anzacs: Performances for Australian and New Zealand Troops on Leave in London, 1916–1919" in Andrew Maunder, ed., British Theatre and the Great War, 1914 - 1919: New Perspectives (Springer 2015). ISBN9781137402004
^Alan Dale, "An American Actress of Title" The Cosmopolitan (January 1914): 262-264.
^Brian McFarlane, Anthony Slide, eds., The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth Edition (Oxford University Press 2014): 781-782. ISBN9780719091391
The Elliott Sisters of Rockland (Gem Productions 2012), a short film about Maxine and Gertrude Elliott, made for Maine Community TV
April 12, 2023
gertrude, elliott, december, 1874, december, 1950, later, lady, forbes, robertson, american, stage, actress, part, extended, family, theatre, professionals, including, husband, johnston, forbes, robertson, elder, sister, maxine, elliott, from, 1904, publicatio. Gertrude Elliott December 14 1874 December 24 1950 later Lady Forbes Robertson was an American stage actress part of an extended family of theatre professionals including her husband Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson and her elder sister Maxine Elliott Gertrude ElliottGertrude Elliott from a 1904 publicationBornMay Gertrude Dermot 1874 12 14 December 14 1874Rockland MaineDiedDecember 24 1950 1950 12 24 aged 76 NationalityAmericanOther namesLady Forbes RobertsonOccupationActorSpouseJohnston Forbes Robertson m 1900 1937 wbr his deathChildren4 including Maxine Blossom Miles Diana Forbes Robertson and Jean Forbes RobertsonRelativesJoanna Van Gyseghem granddaughter Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life EditMay Gertrude Dermot or Dermott was born in Rockland Maine 1 a daughter of Thomas and Adelaide Hall Dermot or Dermott Her father was a sea captain born in Ireland and her mother had been a schoolteacher Her older sister Maxine left the household for New York City by age 16 and Gertrude soon followed Both of them began using the surname Elliott as young women why citation needed Career Edit Gertrude Elliott Forbes Robertson as Cleopatra Elliott s career on stage began in 1894 with a role in Oscar Wilde s A Woman of No Importance in a company that was touring New York state 2 Both Elliotts joined a company in San Francisco that toured Australia in 1896 The company was run by Nat C Goodwin an actor who soon married Maxine Elliott Their company went to London in 1899 and the next year Gertrude was hired into the company of Johnston Forbes Robertson Gertrude Elliott and Forbes Robertson married at the end of 1900 and continued to work together predominantly in Shakespearean works for much of their careers 3 Away from the stage Gertrude Elliott starred with her husband in a silent film version of Hamlet in 1913 directed by their friend J H Ryley She also appeared in a 1917 silent film Masks and Faces Gertrude Elliott was a co founder and president of the Actresses Franchise League 4 During World War I she managed the Shakespeare Hut in Bloomsbury a project of the YMCA for entertaining and raising morale among war workers 5 In 1923 New Zealand gave Gertrude Elliott an award for her work for ANZAC troops during the war 6 Personal life EditElliott married English actor Johnston Forbes Robertson in 1900 They had four daughters including aircraft designer Maxine Blossom Miles writer Diana Forbes Robertson and actress Jean Forbes Robertson Johnston was knighted in 1913 making Gertrude Lady Forbes Robertson from that time 7 She was widowed when her husband died in 1937 and Gertrude died in 1950 aged 76 years Her grandchildren include actress Joanna Van Gyseghem 8 There is a plaque marking the birthplace of the Elliott sisters in the Trackside Station in Rockland Maine 9 References Edit James Fisher Felicia Hardison Londre The A to Z of American Theatre Modernism Scarecrow Press 2009 p 151 ISBN 9780810870475 Martin Banham The Cambridge Guide to Theatre Cambridge University Press 1995 328 ISBN 9780521434379 Clara M Behringer Gertrude Elliott in Edward T James Janet Wilson James Paul S Boyer eds Notable American Women 1607 1950 A Biographical Dictionary Volume 3 Harvard University Press 1971 570 572 ISBN 9780674627345 Elizabeth Crawford The Women s Suffrage Movement A Reference Guide 1866 1928 Routledge 2003 4 ISBN 9781135434021 Ailsa Grant Ferguson Lady Forbes Robertson s War Work Gertrude Elliott and the Shakespeare Hut Performances 1916 1919 in Gordon McMullan Lena Cowen Orlin Virginia Mason Vaughan eds Women Making Shakespeare Text Reception and Performance A amp C Black 2013 ISBN 9781472539373 Ailsa Grant Ferguson Entertaining the Anzacs Performances for Australian and New Zealand Troops on Leave in London 1916 1919 in Andrew Maunder ed British Theatre and the Great War 1914 1919 New Perspectives Springer 2015 ISBN 9781137402004 Alan Dale An American Actress of Title The Cosmopolitan January 1914 262 264 Brian McFarlane Anthony Slide eds The Encyclopedia of British Film Fourth Edition Oxford University Press 2014 781 782 ISBN 9780719091391 Maxine Elliott Maine An Encyclopedia External links EditThe National Portrait Gallery has 21 portraits of Gertrude Elliott most of them from various theatrical roles Gertrude Elliott at the Internet Broadway Database Gertrude Elliott at IMDb The Elliott Sisters of Rockland Gem Productions 2012 a short film about Maxine and Gertrude Elliott made for Maine Community TV Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gertrude Elliott amp oldid 1144729110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
