Emmie Owen

Emily Mary Owen (28 November 1871 – 18 October 1905) was an English opera singer and actress, known for her performances in soprano roles of the Savoy operas with the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. She is best remembered for originating the roles of Princess Nekaya in Utopia, Limited, and the Princess of Monte Carlo in The Grand Duke, the last two Gilbert and Sullivan operas. Beginning as a child actress, Owen performed for two decades in comic opera and pantomime, mostly in England, before falling ill and dying at the age of 33.

Early life and career Owen was born in Bristol to Henry Owen, stage carpenter at Prince's Theatre, and Hester Morgan, his wife. There Owen made her theatrical debut at the age of eleven. By 1885 she was playing speaking roles in Proof and appeared as Little Eva in Uncle Tom's Cabin, and in 1890, in the Prince's pantomime of Aladdin, she was So-Shi. In August she briefly played in the leading role of Yum-Yum in The Mikado. There she ran out of money and experienced illnesses, from which she never recovered.