Lancaster-Wallis, Ellen (1856–)

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Lancaster-Wallis, Ellen (1856–)

English stage actress and playwright. Name variations: Ellen Lancaster Wallis. Born Ellen Wallis, Aug 17, 1856, in England; dau. of Charles Wallis (actor); m. John Lancaster (proprietor of Shaftesbury Theater); m. Walter Reynolds (actormanager); children: Nora Lancaster (b. 1882, actress).

Made stage debut as Pauline in The Lady of Lyons (1872), followed by Montcalm, Amos Clark and Cromwell, among others; spent many years at Drury Lane in such roles as Cleopatra, Juliet, Amy Robsart, Hermione, Desdemona, and the Abbess in Dante with Sir Henry Irving; also appeared in title roles in Ninon and Adrienne Lecouvreur; wrote Wife and State (with J.W. Boulding), The Pharisee (with Malcolm Watson), and such 1-act comedes (comediettas) as "Cissy's Engagement," "Cupid in Ermine," "Little Miss Muffet" and "A Sudden Squall."

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