Anne Oldfield

Anne Oldfield (168323 October 1730) was an English actress and one of the highest paid actresses of her time. or Elizabeth Blanchard. In 1699, she attracted George Farquhar's attention when he overheard her reciting lines from Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher's play The Scornful Lady in a back room of her tavern. Soon after, she was hired by Christopher Rich to join the cast of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Career A year later she was cast in her first small role as Candiope in John Dryden's Secret Love; or, The Maiden Queen (1699). After her success in a minor role, she was given the lead in John Fletcher's The Pilgrim (1647). In the summer of 1703, Oldfield replaced Susanna Verbruggen when her contract was terminated before the company travelled to Bath to perform for Queen Anne and her court.

Oldfield became one of Drury Lane's leading actresses. Colley Cibber acknowledged that she had as much as he to do with the success of his The Careless Husband (1704), in which she created the part of Lady Modish. Speaking of her portrayal of Lady Townly in his The Provoked Husband (1728), Cibber was to say, "that here she outdid her usual Outdoing". She also played the title role in Ben Jonson's Epicoene, and Celia in his Volpone.

Contemporary gossip is recorded that there were rivalries between Oldfield, Anne Bracegirdle, Jane Rogers and Susannah Centlivre, all of whom were supposedly vying for the best roles. In 1706 Oldfield came into conflict with the Drury Lane's management over benefits and salary she believed she had been promised, but which the theatre refused to pay. Oldfield left and joined the competing acting company at Haymarket Theatre before returning to Drury Lane shortly after with a fresh contract and a new position as joint-sharer of the Drury Lane Theatre. On a separate occasion, Oldfield was offered to become manager of the Theatre, "but her sex was thought to be an objection to that measure" thus being asked to name her own terms to stay in her old position, Oldfield received 200 guineas salary, which was ultimately raised to 500 guineas resulting in Oldfield becoming the highest paid actress of her time. He supported her career by helping her work through new roles and by writing more than a dozen prologues and epilogues for her to perform. When she became pregnant with their son, Arthur. Oldfield kept acting until she was physically unable, which was unusual for the time. She went back to work just three months after the birth. Oldfield arranged for her lifelong friend, Margaret Saunders, to join the acting profession.

When Maynwaring died in 1712, rumours circulated that he had died from a venereal disease that Oldfield had given to him. In order to clear both their names, she ordered an official autopsy to be performed on his body, which revealed that he had died of tuberculosis. Oldfield was three months pregnant at the time, but her child is not believed to have survived the birth.

Throughout her last theatrical season she suffered from chronic pain in her abdomen. She retired from the stage in April 1730 and died from cancer of the uterus a few months later.

Oldfield died on 23 October 1730 at age 47, at 60 Grosvenor Street, London. She divided her property between her two sons. Oldfield was buried in Westminster Abbey, beneath the monument to Congreve. Her partner, Churchill, applied for permission to erect a monument there to her memory, but the dean of Westminster refused it.

Memorial

Alexander Pope, in his Sober Advice from Horace, wrote of her "Engaging Oldfield, who, with grace and ease, Could join the arts to ruin and to please." Oldfield had said to her maid "No, let a charming chintz and Brussels lace Wrap my cold limbs and shade my lifeless face; One would not, sure, be frightful when one's dead, And Betty give this cheek a little red."

Significant roles

1699, Candiope – The Maiden Queen by John Dryden. 1700, Alinda - The Pilgrim by John Fletcher. 1705, Arabella – Hampstead Heath by Thomas Baker 1706, Silvia – The Recruiting Officer by George Farquhar 1706, Celia – Volpone by Ben Jonson. 1706, Isabella – The Platonick Lady by Susanna Centlivre 1707, Lady Dainty – The Double Gallant by Colley Cibber 1707, Ethelinda – The Royal Convert by Nicholas Rowe 1707, A Silent Woman – Epiocene by Ben Jonson. 1708, Lady Rodomont – The Fine Lady's Airs by Thomas Baker 1708, Semandra – Mithridates, King of Pontus by Nathaniel Lee 1709, Rutland – The Unhappy Favourite by John Banks. 1713, Marcia - Cato by Joseph Addison. 1714, Eriphile – The Victim by Charles Johnson 1714, Jane Shore – Jane Shore by Nicholas Rowe 1715, Lady Jane Grey – Lady Jane Grey by Nicholas Rowe 1716, Lady Trueman – The Drummer by Joseph Addison 1716, Leonora – The Cruel Gift by Susanna Centlivre 1717, Atalida – The Sultaness by Charles Johnson 1717, Maria – The Non-Juror by Colley Cibber 1717, Rosalinda – Lucius by Delarivier Manley 1717, Mrs Townley – Three Hours After Marriage by John Gay 1719, Celona – The Spartan Dame by Thomas Southerne 1719, Sophronia – The Masquerade by Charles Johnson 1719, Mandane – Busiris, King of Egypt by Edward Young 1721, Sophronia – The Refusal by Colley Cibber 1722, Mrs Watchit – The Artifice by Susanna Centlivre 1722, Indiana – The Conscious Lovers by Richard Steele 1723, Margaret – Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester by Ambrose Philips 1724, Cylene – The Captives by John Gay 1724, Cleopatra – Caesar in Egypt by Colley Cibber 1727, Amoret – The Rival Modes by James Moore Smythe 1728, Lady Townly – The Provoked Husband by Colley Cibber] 1728, Lady Matchless – Love in Several Masques by Henry Fielding 1730, Clarinda – The Humours of Oxford by James Miller 1730, Sophonisba in Sophonisba by James Thomson