Edwardian Actress - Lily Elsie

Lily Elsie (8 April 1886 – 16 December 1962) was a popular English actress and singer, most famous for her role in Franz Lehar's operetta The Merry Widow. Lily Elsie has to be my most favourite of Edwardian actresses, and I consider her to be, perhaps, the most beautiful of women. As well as being a talented actress and singer, and a stunning beauty, she had an interesting and ultimately rather tragic life, which is not apparent from the many photographs and postcards bearing her image. I have included a small selection of images of Elsie, from different periods in her life - it was very difficult to chose; she is so beautiful!

Lily Elsie was born Elsie Hodder in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Elsie became a well known child star, known as 'Little Elsie', though she was reported to be very shy, even as an adult. By 1898 she had her first performance in London, and featured in many plays and pantomimes, touring across England. From about 1900 she adopted the stage name Lily Elsie.

Elsie's biggest and most popular success came from playing the title role in the English version of The Merry Widow. From 1908 the show was a big success, and Elsie became a star, even in America. She received many gifts, especially from male admirers, and her image was wanted by many advertisers. She became one of the most photographed women of the Edwardian Era. In 1915 the American newspaper, Atlanta Constitution, wrote of Elsie: 

"Perhaps her face is nearer to that of the Venus de Milo in profile than to any other famed beauty. There are no angles to be found about her any place.... If she came to America, she would undoubtedly be called the most beautiful woman in America. Nature never made a more brilliant success in the beauty business than she did with Lily Elsie. It was mostly from the nobility that her suitors came. Everyone agrees that Lily Elsie has the most kissable mouth in all England... she possesses the Cupid's bow outline with the ends curving upward delicately, all ready for smiles.... Strangely enough, the women of the land were among her most devoted admirers."

Elsie appeared in many other shows after The Merry Widow, and in 1911 she left the stage to marry Major John Ian Bullough (1885–1936), but the marriage was reported to be an unhappy one. She also suffered from many health problems, such as anemia, and had many operations while she was still performing. Though her husband wished her to retire from stage, for it was obviously stressful and damaging on her health, and she did so for a few years, she continued until 1920, when she moved with her husband to Gloucestershire. There Elsie enjoyed the ten year break from performing, before returning to the theatre for a few years. Her last performance was in 1928.

In 1930 Elsie's unhappy marriage ended in divorce and her health deteriorated rapidly; becoming a hypochondriac and spending much time in nursing homes. She was diagnosed with serious physiological ailments and even underwent brain surgery which apparently improved her situation somewhat. Lily Elsie died in St Andrews Hospital in London at the age of 76, where she had spent her last years.