Lydia Webb

Lydia Webb
Lydia Webb (right) in an etching by James Sayers, 1786
Born	1736 or 1737 [1] Norwich, England
Died	24 November 1793 [2] United Kingdom
Occupation	Actress [2]

Lydia Webb (1736 or 1737-1793 ^[1] ) was an English actress. She started acting in Norwich. She was married twice. First, she married a man named Mr. Day. Second, she married a Mr. Webb. Her first notable performance was on 21 November 1772 at the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, performing in The West Indian . She died in 1793. ^[2]

Career

Webb was a versatile and proactive performer. She was in more than 50 plays. When she was elderly, she played more "grotesque characters." She performed many parts including:

• Portia, The Merchant of Venice , 29 November 1773
• Mrs. Peachum, The Beggar's Opera , Covent Garden Theatre
• Mrs. Honeycombe, Polly Honeycombe , Haymarket Theatre
• Glumdalca, Tom Thumb , Covent Garden Theatre
• Queen, Hamlet
• Emilia, Othello

and many other performances. ^[2] In 1786, she was featured in an illustration by James Sayers, which is now held in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London. ^[3]

References

1. "Lydia Webb (née Child) (1736 or 1737-1793), Actress". Collection. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
2.  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Webb, Mrs.". Dictionary of National Biography . London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
3. "'Performed at a little theatre with great applause' (Mrs Edwards; Lydia Webb (née Child))". Collections. National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 21 January 2015.