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Lily Brayton

(1876-1953), Actress

Sitter in 79 portraits
Edwardian beauty, Brayton began her acting career with Benson's Shakespearean Company in 1896. Marrying the Australian actor Oscar Asche in 1898, both formed a celebrated partnership, appearing in Asche's own productions, notably The Taming of the Shrew (1904) and Kismet (1911). In 1904 they formed their own theatrical company, and in 1907 became co-managers of His Majesty's Theatre, London. They made two popular tours of Australia, but their biggest hit was with the musical comedy Chu Chin Chow. This ran for five years from 1916, making it the biggest hit of the war years, with Brayton as the female lead. Her last stage appearance was as Portia in Julius Caesar in 1932.

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Lily Brayton as Ildico in 'Attila', by Rita Martin, published by  The Philco Publishing Co - NPG x131482

Lily Brayton as Ildico in 'Attila'

by Rita Martin, published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1907
NPG x131482

Lily Brayton as Ildico in 'Attila', by Rita Martin, published by  The Philco Publishing Co - NPG x131483

Lily Brayton as Ildico in 'Attila'

by Rita Martin, published by The Philco Publishing Co
bromide postcard print, 1907
NPG x131483

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131452

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131452

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131453

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131453

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131454

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131454

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131455

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131455

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131456

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131456

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131457

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131457

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131458

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131458

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131459

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131459

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131460

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131460

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins', by Rita Martin, published by  Aristophot Co Ltd - NPG x131461

Lily Brayton as Elsa in 'The Two Pins'

by Rita Martin, published by Aristophot Co Ltd
hand-coloured postcard print, 1908
NPG x131461

Lily Brayton as Theodosia in 'Resurrection', by Unknown photographer - NPG x200161

Lily Brayton as Theodosia in 'Resurrection'

by Unknown photographer
hand-coloured postcard print, circa 1908
NPG x200161

Lily Brayton, by May and Mina Moore - NPG x47363

Lily Brayton

by May and Mina Moore
bromide print, circa 1910
NPG x47363

Lily Brayton, by R.W. Thompson - NPG x198194

Lily Brayton

by R.W. Thompson
bromide postcard print, late-1910s
NPG x198194

Lily Brayton as Desdemona in 'Othello', by Rita Martin, published by  J. Beagles & Co - NPG x131463

Lily Brayton as Desdemona in 'Othello'

by Rita Martin, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1911
NPG x131463

Lily Brayton as Desdemona in 'Othello', by Rita Martin, published by  J. Beagles & Co - NPG x131464

Lily Brayton as Desdemona in 'Othello'

by Rita Martin, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1911
NPG x131464

Lily Brayton as Marsinah in 'Kismet', by Rita Martin, published by  J. Beagles & Co - NPG x131470

Lily Brayton as Marsinah in 'Kismet'

by Rita Martin, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1911
NPG x131470

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