Brayton, Lily (1876–1953)

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Brayton, Lily (1876–1953)

English stage star. Name variations: Mrs. Oscar Asche. Born June 23, 1876, in Hindley, Lancs., England; died April 30, 1953; m. Oscar Asche (actor, writer, 1871–1936); m. Douglas Chalmers Watson (physician).

Made stage debut with Frank Benson's company as a walk-on in Richard III (1896), then appeared for several seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival; through the years, appeared to great acclaim as Rosalind, Katherine, Ophelia, Isabella, Mistress Ford, Helena, Desdemona, Queen Isabella and Viola; as actor and manager, often collaborated with husband Oscar Asche, and appeared opposite him as Zahrat-al-Kulub in his huge hit, Chu Chin Chow, for almost 2,000 performances (1916–21).

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