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Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire) (1881-1920), Actress and dancer

Sitter in 56 portraits
First appeared at the Gaiety Theatre in 1906, as 'The Charm of Paris' in The New Aladdin, performing the 'Ju-Jitsu waltz', but the dance that made her famous was 'The Gaby Glide'. Famous for her extravagant clothes, jewels and millinery, she lived up to her notoriety. J.M. Barrie was so smitten by her that he wrote a one-act play for her, Rosy Rapture (1915). Gordon Selfridge gave her a rope of pearls as long as her height. Her last stage appearance was at the Casino de Paris, in Laissez-les Tomber! (1918). Deslys also worked as a spy for the French government during World War I and was famed for her high-profile liaisons with the King of Portugal, amongst others.

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Ax160270

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Foulsham & Banfield, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1900s
NPG Ax160270

x160493

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, mid 1900s
NPG x160493

x160494

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Bassano
bromide postcard print, mid 1900s
NPG x160494

Ax160272

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Unknown photographer
matte bromide postcard print, circa 1905
NPG Ax160272

Ax160273

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Unknown photographer
matte bromide postcard print, circa 1905
NPG Ax160273

Ax160269

S.K. Eida and Gaby Deslys in the new Ju-Jitsu waltz at the Gaiety

by Bassano, published by Andrew & George Taylor
bromide postcard print, 1906
NPG Ax160269

x101371

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Bassano
whole-plate glass negative, 1907
NPG x101371

x101372

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Bassano
whole-plate glass negative, 1907
NPG x101372

Ax160149

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire); Harry Pilcer

by Foulsham & Banfield, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, early 1910s
NPG Ax160149

Ax160150

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Wrather & Buys, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1910s
NPG Ax160150

Ax160151

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire); Harry Pilcer

by Talbot, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, early 1910s
NPG Ax160151

Ax160394

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1910s
NPG Ax160394

Ax160395

Harry Pilcer; Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Foulsham & Banfield, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, early 1910s
NPG Ax160395

Ax160396

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Wrather & Buys, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1910s
NPG Ax160396

Ax160397

Harry Pilcer; Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Foulsham & Banfield, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, early 1910s
NPG Ax160397

Ax160398

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by Foulsham & Banfield, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, early 1910s
NPG Ax160398

Ax160399

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire); Harry Pilcer

by Talbot, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd
bromide postcard print, early 1910s
NPG Ax160399

Ax160406

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by E. Veit
matte bromide postcard print, 1910
NPG Ax160406

Ax160407

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

published by Davidson Brothers
hand-coloured matte bromide postcard print, 1910s
NPG Ax160407

Ax160408

Gaby Deslys (Marie-Elise Gabrielle Caire)

by E. Veit
hand-coloured matte bromide postcard print, 1910
NPG Ax160408

Category
Theatre and Live Entertainment
Groups
Actors and actresses
Ballerinas and dancers
Places
France
Portugal