Florence Collingbourne

Florence Eliza Collingbourne (January 1880 – 8 July 1946) was a British actress, singer and stage beauty known for her appearances in Edwardian musical comedies. One of George Edwardes' Gaiety Girls, and originated the role of Nancy Staunton in The Toreador. the daughter of Maria Eleanor née Witham (1858–1888) and Henry Ashdown Collingbourne (1859-), a printer's labourer. Her mother died when she was 8 years old, following which she was raised by her aunt and uncle. She was living alone in Camberwell in 1901.

Her stage appearances include a series of Edwardian musical comedies produced by George Edwardes, such as A Greek Slave at Daly's Theatre (1898) and Gladys Stourton in A Gaiety Girl at the Gaiety Theatre (1899). She originated the small role of Yung Shi (and later took over the title role) in San Toy at Daly's (1899–1900), and Nancy Staunton in The Toreador at the Gaiety (1901–1902).

She left the production to marry Laurence Margetson (1874–1928), a hosiery manufacturer, with whom she had three children: William Laurence Margetson (1902–1992); Colleen Mary Margetson (1908–1995), and the novelist and writer Stella Margetson (1912–1992). After her marriage she retired from acting. In her later years she lived at The Holdynge, Aldwick Avenue in Bognor Regis in Sussex.