Ellen Ternan

Ellen Ternan was a British actress who gained significant attention for her performances on the London stage, particularly at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the Adelphi Theatre. Her life and career were closely tied to the Victorian era and its prominent figures, including the renowned author Charles Dickens. Ternan's acting career was marked by her appearances in plays by notable writers such as William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. She was also associated with the Royal Shakespeare Company and performed at various theaters, including the Globe Theatre and the Savoy Theatre.

Early Life and Career

Ellen Ternan was born in Rochester, Kent, to a family of actors, including her mother, Frances Ternan, and her sisters, Maria Ternan and Fanny Ternan. Her early life was influenced by the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden and the Drury Lane Theatre, where her family members performed. Ternan's introduction to the stage was facilitated by her family's connections to the London Theatre scene, which included associations with actors like William Macready and Charles Kean. She began her acting career at a young age, performing in plays by Richard Brinsley Sheridan and Oliver Goldsmith at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket.

Relationship with Charles Dickens

Ellen Ternan's relationship with Charles Dickens has been the subject of much speculation and debate among scholars and literary critics, including Edmund Wilson and George Orwell. It is believed that Dickens, who was a prominent figure in the Literary Society, met Ternan during one of her performances at the St James's Theatre. Their association led to rumors of a romantic affair, which was further fueled by Dickens's separation from his wife, Catherine Dickens. Ternan's connection to Dickens also brought her into contact with other notable figures of the time, including Wilkie Collins and Elizabeth Gaskell. The relationship between Ternan and Dickens has been explored in various works, including Claire Tomalin's biography of Charles Dickens and Simon Callow's book on the Victorian era.

Acting Career and Later Life

Ellen Ternan's acting career spanned several decades, during which she performed in a wide range of plays, including those by Henrik Ibsen and Anton Chekhov. She was particularly known for her performances in Shakespearean plays, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Merchant of Venice, at the Old Vic and the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. Ternan's later life was marked by her marriage to George Wharton Robinson, a University of Oxford graduate, and her subsequent retirement from the stage. She lived in Folkestone and was involved with the local Folkestone Repertory Theatre and the Folkestone Literary Society. Ternan's legacy as an actress has been recognized by the Theatre Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum, which have exhibited artifacts related to her career.

Personal Life and Legacy

Ellen Ternan's personal life was marked by her relationships with prominent figures of the time, including Charles Dickens and George Wharton Robinson. Her marriage to Robinson produced two children, and the family was associated with the Church of England and the University of Cambridge. Ternan's legacy as an actress has been celebrated by the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Her life and career have also been the subject of various works, including books by Claire Tomalin and Michael Slater, and have been recognized by the British Library and the National Theatre. Ternan's association with the Victorian era and its notable figures has ensured her place in the history of British theatre, alongside other prominent actresses of the time, such as Sarah Siddons and Ellen Terry.