Julia Neilson

Julia Neilson was born on June 12, 1868 in London, England as Julia Emilie Neilson.

Despite her singing talent she decided to learn the profession of an actress and she made her professional stage debut in 1888 at the Lyceum theater. Soon after followed her first leading role in the play "Pygmalion and Galatea". Afterwards she appeared successfully on different stages. With her engagement by Herbert Beerbohm Tree her reputation increased and she made her acting repertoire perfect.

A review of Neilson's performance in the play Ballad Monger in 1890 declared: "Miss Neilson's really wonderful singing took the curtain up on the very keynote of the beautiful and pathetic play. And to her singing no higher tribute can be paid. One of these days, we do not doubt, it will be possible to write in the same strain about her acting. In that there is splendid promise. And the promise will come the more near to performance when she is a trifle less conscious of her remarkable physical beauty, and of the fact that she has been to some extent rushed into her present position".

In 1895, two months after the birth of her second child, she went on tour in the USA together with Fred Terry.

She was an actress, known for King John (1899) and Sweet Nell of Old Drury (1900). She was married to Fred Terry.

Fred Terry took over the management of the Haymarket in 1900. They produced successful plays in the next 30 years, among others "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1903).

Julia Neilson retired from the stage in 1935. Only in 1944 she had a single appearance on the stage again with "The Widow of 40".

In 1938, she was given a testimonial luncheon to mark her fiftieth anniversary as a performer.

Neilson died in a hospital in Hampstead, London, after a fall at her home, in 1957 at the age of 88.