Ellen Terry (1847-1928), Actress
Dame (Alice) Ellen Terry
Sitter in 145 portraits
Born in Coventry where her actor parents were on tour. Terry was one of eleven siblings and won fame as a child first appearing on stage in 1856 with Charles Kean. Married the painter G.F. Watts in 1864 but separated within a year. Terry had two children by the architect Edward Godwin, Edith Craig and Edward Gordon Craig. Returned to stage in 1872 to establish herself as a leading actress with the Bancroft's and John Hare's company. She performed her most memorable roles under the management of Henry Irving and in later life continued to act but also produced plays, lectured and wrote. Created a Dame in 1925.
by George Frederic Watts
oil on strawboard mounted on Gatorfoam, circa 1864
On display in Room 26 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG 5048
by George Frederic Watts
oil on canvas, circa 1864-1865
On display in the Dining Room at Bodelwyddan Castle
NPG 2274
by Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson
oil on canvas, 1876
NPG 3789
replica by John Singer Sargent
oil on canvas, 1906 (1889)
NPG 2273
The Royal Academy Conversazione, 1891
by G. Grenville Manton
pen, ink and gouache, 1891
NPG 2820
by James Ferrier Pryde
oil and varnish on card laid on board, 1906
NPG 6568
by Walford Graham Robertson
oil on canvas, 1922
NPG 3132
by Unknown artist
plaster cast of death-mask, after 1928
NPG 3657
Charles John Kean; Ellen Terry as Leontes and Mamillius in 'The Winter's Tale'
by Martin Laroche (William Henry Silvester)
salt print, 26 April 1856
NPG x7954
Ellen Terry as Desdemona in 'Othello'
by Southwell Brothers
albumen carte-de-visite, 1863
NPG x16990
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen print, 11 May 1867
NPG x18489
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax18156
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s
NPG Ax18157
by Unknown photographer
woodburytype, published 1875
NPG x135885
by Unknown photographer
matte bromide postcard print, late 1870s
NPG Ax160172
Ellen Terry as Olivia in 'Olivia'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, circa 1878
NPG x16986
Ellen Terry as Olivia in 'Olivia'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, circa 1878
NPG x16987
Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, circa 1878
NPG x16971
Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card cropped to carte-de-visite size, circa 1878
NPG x16976
Ellen Terry as Olivia in 'Olivia'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1878; published 1906
NPG Ax131300
Ellen Terry as Ophelia in 'Hamlet'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1878; published 1906
NPG Ax131301
by Lock & Whitfield, published by Wyman & Sons
woodburytype, published 1 August 1878
NPG Ax28262
by Lock & Whitfield
woodburytype, published 1 August 1878
NPG x26807
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1879
NPG x16988
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by Window & Grove, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s (1879)
NPG x16989
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1879; published 1906
NPG Ax131302
Ellen Terry as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice'
by Unknown photographer
woodburytype, 1879
NPG Ax7705
by Alexander Bassano
vintage print, 1880 (printed later)
NPG x85758
by Alexander Bassano
vintage print, 1880 (printed later)
NPG x85759
by Alexander Bassano
vintage print, 1880 (printed later)
NPG x85760
Ellen Terry as Iolanthe in 'Iolanthe'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1880; published 1906
NPG Ax131303
by London Stereoscopic & Photographic Company
albumen cabinet card, 1880s
NPG x26803
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1880
NPG x96389
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1880
NPG x96390
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1880
NPG x96391
Ellen Terry as Letitia Hardy in 'The Belle's Strategem'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, circa 1881
NPG x16975
Ellen Terry as Camma in 'The Cup'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1881; published 1906
NPG Ax131304
Ellen Terry as Letitia Hardy in 'The Belle's Strategem'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1881; published 1906
NPG Ax131305
Ellen Terry as Letitia Hardy in 'The Belle's Strategem'
by William Henry Grove, published by Window & Grove
matte bromide postcard print, 1881
NPG Ax160171
Ellen Terry as Letitia Hardy in 'The Belle's Strategem'
by William Henry Grove, published by Window & Grove
matte bromide postcard print, 1881
NPG Ax160173
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1882
NPG x16979
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1882
NPG x16981
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1882?
NPG x16982
Ellen Terry as Juliet in 'Romeo and Juliet'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1882; published 1906
NPG Ax131306
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1882; published 1906
NPG Ax131307
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
after Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1882
NPG x26808
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
by Window & Grove
albumen print, 1882
NPG x26810
Ellen Terry as Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing'
after Window & Grove
albumen print, 1882
NPG x26811
by St James's Photographic Co, published by David Bogue
carbon print, published 1 September 1883
NPG Ax9277
by Hayman Seleg Mendelssohn
albumen cabinet card, 1883
NPG Ax5571
by Elliott & Fry
chlorobromide print on cream card mount, 1884
NPG x127489
by Elliott & Fry
albumen cabinet card, 1884
NPG x26375
Ellen Terry as Viola in 'Twelfth Night'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1884
NPG x16983
Ellen Terry as Viola in 'Twelfth Night'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1884
NPG x16984
Ellen Terry as Viola in 'Twelfth Night'
by William Henry Grove, printed and published by Window & Grove
platinum print, 1884; published 1906
NPG Ax131308
Ellen Terry as Olivia in 'Olivia'
by William Henry Grove, for Window & Grove
albumen cabinet card, 1885
NPG x16985
Smallhythe Place, Tenterden, Kent
Category
Theatre and Live Entertainment
Groups
Actors and actresses
Places
Kent
Warwickshire
West Midlands
Related pages
Thematic collections
Related shop items
- A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery (paperback)
- A Guide to Victorian & Edwardian Portraits (paperback)
- George Frederic Watts DVD
- Dame Ellen Terry coin purse
- Dame Ellen Terry magnetic frame
- Lilian Gish by James Abbe print
- Dame (Alice) Ellen Terry ('Choosing') by George Frederick Watts mini print
- Dame Ellen Terry by George Frederic Watts greetings card
- Dame Ellen Terry compact mirror






























































