Thorndike, Dame Sybil

Thorndike, Dame Sybil

▪ British actress
born Oct. 24, 1882, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Eng.
died June 9, 1976, London
 English actress of remarkable versatility.

      The daughter of a canon of Rochester Cathedral, she performed with Annie Horniman's company in Manchester (1908–09 and 1911–13), and then joined the Old Vic Company in London (1914–18), where she helped to establish not only the theatre's name as a home of Shakespeare but also her own as the most promising English tragic actress of the day. She went on to prove her versatility in a great variety of parts, modern as well as classical, comic as well as tragic (including some male parts, among them the Fool in King Lear). In 1924 she created the title role in Shaw's Saint Joan. She was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1931.

      Her superb health and vigour did not desert her in middle age. In her 60s she broke new ground, giving a whole gallery of portraits of elderly women having in common nothing but the meticulous and humorous observation which the actress had brought to their creation. In 1962 she undertook an arduous tour of Australia, and made numerous stage appearances throughout the decade, including taxing roles in The Viaduct (1966) and There Was An Old Woman (1969). She opened the Thorndike Theatre outside London in 1969.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Thorndike, Dame (Agnes) Sybil — born Oct. 24, 1882, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Eng. died June 9, 1976, London British actress. As a member of the Old Vic company in London (1914–18), she became a leading tragic actress. Noted for her versatility in modern and classic plays,… …   Universalium

  • Sybil Thorndike — Sybil Thorndike, Lady Casson Sybil Thorndike photographed in 1943 Born Agnes Sybil Thorndike 24 October 1882(1882 10 24) Gainsborough, Lincolnshire …   Wikipedia

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  • Sybil Thorndike — fotografiada en 1943 Nombre real Agnes Sybil Thorndike Nacimiento 24 de octubre de 1882 …   Wikipedia Español

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  • dame — /daym/, n. 1. (cap.) (in Britain) a. the official title of a female member of the Order of the British Empire, equivalent to that of a knight. b. the official title of the wife of a knight or baronet. 2. (formerly) a form of address to any woman… …   Universalium

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