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Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft

(1839-1921), Actress and theatre manager; wife of Sir Squire Bancroft

Later Victorian Portraits Catalogue Entry

Sitter in 31 portraits
Actress and theatrical manager. Marie Effie Wilton was a performer from early childhood. First seen on the London stage in 1856 at the Lyceum where her talent for burlesque brought her wide acclaim; Charles Dickens described her as one of 'the cleverest girls I have ever seen on the stage'. With her husband Squire Bancroft (who she married in 1867) she became joint actor-manager of the Prince of Wales Theatre, where successes included Dion Boucicault's comedy London Assurance (1877). The company set new standards of production and raised the status of the acting profession. In 1880 they rebuilt the Haymarket Theatre introducing the first use of electric light on the English stage in Man and Wife.

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Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft as Aladdin in 'Aladdin', by Alfred Henry Wall, published by  Thomas Hailes Lacy - NPG x211

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft as Aladdin in 'Aladdin'

by Alfred Henry Wall, published by Thomas Hailes Lacy
albumen carte-de-visite, 1861
On display in Room 22 on Floor 2 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG x211

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft, by William Walker & Sons - NPG x197064

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft

by William Walker & Sons
albumen carte-de-visite, 1862-1866
NPG x197064

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft, by Lock & Whitfield, published by  Hardwicke & Bogue - NPG Ax45745

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft

by Lock & Whitfield, published by Hardwicke & Bogue
woodburytype, published 1879 (circa 1875)
NPG Ax45745

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft, by Lock & Whitfield - NPG x132951

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft

by Lock & Whitfield
woodburytype on programme page, published 10 July 1875
NPG x132951

'Ladies of the London Stage', after Lock & Whitfield, and  Unknown photographers - NPG x135885

'Ladies of the London Stage'

after Lock & Whitfield, and Unknown photographers
woodburytype, published 1875
NPG x135885

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft; Sir Squire Bancroft (né Butterfield), by Herbert Rose Barraud, published by  Carson & Comerford - NPG Ax29219

Marie Effie (née Wilton), Lady Bancroft; Sir Squire Bancroft (né Butterfield)

by Herbert Rose Barraud, published by Carson & Comerford
woodburytype, published 1 July 1885
NPG Ax29219

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