Born: 28 July 1859, United States
Died: 29 May 1940
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Mary Anderson de Navarro
From Famous Women: An Outline of Feminine Achievement Through the Ages With Life Stories of Five Hundred Noted Women. Written by Joseph Adelman, published 1926 by Ellis M Lonow Company:
Mary Anderson, an American actress. She was educated at the Ursuline Convent in Louisville, Ky and at the age of thirteen began to study for the stage, In November, 1875, she made her début in the character of Juliet, at Louisville, and scored an immediate success. During the ten following years she played in all the principal cities of the United States, and was immensely popular with all classes. Her beauty, her picturesque figure and magnificent voice easily made her the most successful actress of her day.
From 1885 – 1889 she appeared in England, where she repeated her American triumphs. Her most notable impersonations were Perdita, Hermoine, Galatea, Rosalind, Bianca, Pauline, and Juliet.
Illness in 1889 compelled her to retire, and in 1890 when she married Antonio de Navarro, she decided not to return to the stage, and made her residence in England. After the European War broke out she frequently appeared at special performances for the benefit of wounded soldiers.
Her autobiography, entitled A Few Memories (1896) is an interesting narrative of her dramatic career.