Maud Hobson

Maud Hobson (born Jane Elizabeth Manson; 13 November 1860 – 7 January 1913) was an Australian-born English actress. Beginning in Victorian burlesque in her uncle's Gaiety Theatre in London, she joined George Edwardes's company there after he took over as manager and became one of his Gaiety Girls. She also played principal roles in some of his Edwardian musical comedies.

Early life Hobson was born on 13 November 1860 in the suburb of Toorak, near Melbourne, Australia, to John Manson and Eliza née Hollingshead, who emigrated to Melbourne from England separately in 1853. When Hobson was 3 month old her family returned to England.

Career In 1880, Hobson started performing at the Gaiety Theatre where her uncle, John Hollingshead, was then the manager and suggested her stage name, Maud Hobson. The next year she got married and moved to Hawaii where she was occasionally performing. and 1896 she reappeared as a Gaiety Girl. Hobson has also done seasons in and out of parts at New York. She appeared in A Gaiety Girl at Daly's Theatre in New York, as well as in Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Milwaukee, and San Francisco.

By the time she was 30 Hobson had lived in Hawaii, Colorado, and London. Later Hobson moved to live with her uncle Hollingshead and his family in Kensington, London.

Personal life In 1881 Hobson married Lieutenant Andrew Burrell Hayley, an officer of the 11th Hussars. The couple moved to Honolulu where Hayley acted as Chief Minister to King Kalakaua of Hawaii.