Search the Collection

Hetty King (Winifred Emms)

(1883-1972), Actress and male impersonator

Sitter in 10 portraits
King was a popular entertainer in the music halls, and by 1905 she had established her own solo act as a male impersonator, dressed as a 'swell' (man-about-town). During the war she regularly appeared in the uniforms of either a soldier or sailor, and took the part of principal boy in pantomimes. Known for her interpretation of such songs as Ship Ahoy (All The Nice Girls Love A Sailor'), she is remembered for presenting an act called The Songs The Soldiers Sing, in which she performed cleaned-up versions of songs from the trenches.

1 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

Hetty King (Winifred Emms), by Richard Brown, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x19146

Hetty King (Winifred Emms)

by Richard Brown, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG x19146

Hetty King (Winifred Emms), published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160072

Hetty King (Winifred Emms)

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, circa 1905
NPG Ax160072

Hetty King (Winifred Emms), published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160067

Hetty King (Winifred Emms)

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, circa 1906
NPG Ax160067

Hetty King (Winifred Emms) as Aladdin, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160069

Hetty King (Winifred Emms) as Aladdin

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, circa 1906
NPG Ax160069

Hetty King (Winifred Emms), by Henry Joseph Whitlock, published by  The Philco Publishing Co - NPG Ax160070

Hetty King (Winifred Emms)

by Henry Joseph Whitlock, published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1906
NPG Ax160070

Hetty King (Winifred Emms) in 'Boy Blue', published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG Ax160068

Hetty King (Winifred Emms) in 'Boy Blue'

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, circa 1909
NPG Ax160068

Hetty King (Winifred Emms), published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x160519

Hetty King (Winifred Emms)

published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
hand-coloured bromide postcard print, 1910s
NPG x160519

Hetty King (Winifred Emms), published by The Philco Publishing Co - NPG x160520

Hetty King (Winifred Emms)

published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1910s
NPG x160520

Hetty King (Winifred Emms), by Foulsham & Banfield, published by  Rotary Photographic Co Ltd - NPG x196950

Hetty King (Winifred Emms)

by Foulsham & Banfield, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, circa 1912
NPG x196950

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.