Sarah
Siddons,
eldest child of Roger Kemble, the manager of a small travelling theatre
company, was born in Brecon, South Wales, in 1755. She worked as an
actress in her father's company when only a small child.
In 1773 Sarah married a fellow actor, William Siddons. Over the next
few years the couple had seven children, two of whom died in infancy.
Sarah first began working in London in
1775 but it was not until 1782, with her appearance as Isabella in
Fatal Marriage at the Drury Lane
Theatre, that she achieved recognition for her acting ability. Over
the next few
years she established herself as Britain's leading actress. Her final
performance on the English stage was as Lady Macbeth in June, 1812.
Sarah Siddons continued to give public readings until her death in
1831.
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