Farren, Nellie (1848–1904)
Farren, Nellie (1848–1904)
English actress. Name variations: Ellen Farren; Nelly Farren. Born Ellen Farren in 1848; died in 1904; daughter of Henry Farren (1826–1860, an actor); great-granddaughter of actor William Farren (1725–1795); granddaughter of actor William Farren (1786–1861).
Descending from a long line of actors, Nellie Farren was the great-granddaughter of William Farren (1725–1795), who appeared in the first productions of Richard Sheridan's The School for Scandal (1777), and The Critic (1779), and the granddaughter of the second William Farren (1786–1861), who was known for his portrayal of Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal, as well as many Shakespearean roles. Her father Henry Farren was a well-known London actor before going to America where he managed a theater in St. Louis, Missouri. Nellie, whose real name was Ellen, began her career at the Olympic Theater (1864–1868), then was associated with John Hollingshead's company at the Gaiety Theater until her retirement in 1891. Short and slight of frame, she specialized in playing young boys, notably Smike in Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby, and Sam Willoughby in Tom Taylor's Ticket-of-Leave Man. Her female roles included Lydia Languish in The Rivals (1874) and Maria in Twelfth Night (1876). Characterized as spirited, humorous, and droll, Farren was quite popular in her day.