Harriet Smithson

Harriet Constance Smithson
Painting by C.M. Dubufe, c. 1828.
Born	Harriet Constance (1800-03-18)March 18, 1800 Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
Died	3 March 1854(1854-03-03) (aged 53) Paris, France.
Occupation	Shakespearean Actress
Years active	1814–1837
Spouse(s)	Hector Berlioz (m. 1833)

Harriet Constance (1800–1854), most commonly known as Harriet Smithson, who also went by Henrietta Constance Smithson,Harriet Smithson Berlioz, and Miss H.C. Smithson, was a famous Shakespearean actress, who is best known as the first wife and muse of Hector Berlioz.

Harriet Smithson was born on March 18, 1800, at Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland, between William Joseph Smithson and Mrs. Smithson. Her father was an actor and theatrical manager from Gloucestershire, England, and her mother was an actress whose full name is unknown. She also had a brother, Joseph Smithson, and a sister, whose name is never mentioned.

In October 1801, Harriet was left in the care of Reverend James Barrett, the pastor of the Church of Ireland, parish of Drumcliffe, and later the Dean of Killaloe. Barrett became her guardian and brought her up as though she were his own daughter. He instructed her "in the precepts of religion," and kept everything connected with the stage from her view. After Barrett's death on February 16, 1808, the Smithsons sent Harriet to a boarding school in Waterford.

On May 27, 1814, Smithson made her first stage appearance at the Theatre Royal (Dublin), as Albina Mandevill in Frederick Reynolds's The Will. Her performance was well received, and the Freeman's Journal gave her a positive review.

She certainly is a most interesting and promising young actress, and there is no doubt she would prove a great acquisition to Crow-street, in the line of performance which her taste, as well as her talents, incline her to pursue.

In 1815, Harriet Smithson took her parents' place in Montague Talbot's company in Belfast after they returned to Dublin. The season opened on January 1, 1816, where she extended her range in roles, performing in multiple comedies. She then traveled to Newry, Limerick, Dublin, and Burmingham, where she joined Robert Elliston's company. She spent the next two months playing over forty roles in varying genres.

Four years later, January 20, 1818, Smithson made her first London appearance at Drury Lane as Letitia Hardy in The Belle's Stratagem. Her first performance received mixed reviews from critics, but she quickly gained some favor of critics and performers as she obtained more experience.

She joined the permanent company at the Royal Coburg later that year. However, she rejoined Drury Lane Company in the autumn of 1820. On February 20, 1821, she filled in as the lead female role in Thérèse by John Howard Payne, when the casted actress fell ill.