Myra Kemble

Myra Kemble (17 November 1857 – 27 October 1906) born as Maria Teresa Gill, was an Australian stage actress.

Life

Early life and career Myra Kemble was born on 17 November 1857 in Sligo, Ireland, the only daughter of Pritchard and Teresa Joseph Gill . She was reportedly named Maria Teresa Gill at birth, "Myra Kemble" being a stage name. In 1874, Kemble made her stage debut as Venus in a pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne titled Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She starred in Bland Holt's first Australian production of New Babylon at the Victoria Theatre in 1877, and won wide praise as Biddy in Transported for Life, May Meredith in Our American Cousin and as the fool in King Lear.

She was the youngest Lady Macbeth to have appeared on the Australian stage to that time and by 1880 her salary had reached £40 a week. For some years she held the place of "leading lady" in various companies, and has been equally a favourite in all the cities of Australia and New Zealand.

After her husband's death she lived with her mother. Kemble died in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, on 27 October 1906.

Select theatre credits New Magdalen Queen Mary Uncle Tom's Cabin Pygmalion and Galatea Hamlet (1877) King Lear (1877) The Woman in White (1878) Arrah-na-Pogue (1878, 1880) The Heir at Law In Chancery Hans, the Boatman East Lynne (1880) The New Babylon (1880) Youth (1885) Sophia (1888, 1889) Dr Bill (1890, 1891) Moths