Lily Elsie by Bain News Service, 1910-05George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress Miss Li

Lily Elsie by Bain News Service, 1910-05George Grantham Bain Collection, Library of Congress Miss Lily Elsie made her name on the opening night of The Merry Widow, in London, on 8th June 1907.  Overnight she had the town at her feet.  On the stage Elsie seemed mysteriously beautiful with her perfect Grecian profile, enormous blue eyes, and hauntingly sad smile.  Tall, cool, and lily-like, she moved with lyrical gestures in a slow-motion grace.She was a true ‘star’ of Edwardian times, although the word was yet to be used in that context.  Magazines produced special supplements about her, adverts featured her picture.Although her fame and fortune came entirely from public appearances she was painfully shy.  After just a few years on the stage she retired to a quite life away from the public eye.  She did however leave us with hundreds of pictures, a few gramophone discs, and two films, to remember her by. Text Source -- source link

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