George Anne Bellamy

George Anne Bellamy
by F Lindo
Born23 April 1731
County Fingal
Died16 February 1788 (1788-02-17) (aged 56)
London
NationalityIrish
EmployerDrury Lane Theatre

George Anne Bellamy (née O'Hara; 23 April 1731 – 16 February 1788) was an Irish actress. She took leading roles at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Her success was rapid, participating in the rivalry for popular favor in Romeo and Juliet in 1750, playing with Garrick at Drury Lane,[1] while Barry and Mrs. Cibber played at Covent Garden. She was thought the more charming of the Juliets. Mrs. Bellamy was popular and she was received in the best society. She forfeited her reputation by her liaisons.[2]

Her last appearance was at Drury Lane on 24 May 1785 in her own benefit concert. She was unable to act, but spoke a short address to the audience.[2] The same year she published "An Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy" in six volumes.[3] These memoirs are believed to have been ghost written from her notes by Alexander Bicknell.[4] She died in poverty in 1788[5] in Edinburgh.[6]

  1. ^ Benjamin Wilson. "David Garrick and George Anne Bellamy in "Romeo and Juliet", Act V, Scene iii". Google Cultural Institute. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference text was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ George Anne Bellamy, An Apology for the Life of George Anne Bellamy, late of Covent Garden Theatre, Written by Herself (six volumes, London, 1785)
  4. ^ Webb, Alfred (1878). "Bellamy, George Anne" . A Compendium of Irish Biography. Dublin: M. H. Gill & son. p. 15.
  5. ^ "CollectionsOnline | G0054". garrick.ssl.co.uk. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  6. ^ "George Anne Bellamy". www.libraryireland.com. Retrieved 16 July 2018.