May Fortescue

May Fortescue (9 February 1859 – 2 September 1950) was an actress, singer and actor-manager of the Victorian era and a protégée of playwright W. S. Gilbert. She was a member of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company from 1881 to 1883, when she left the company following her engagement to a nobleman, young Arthur William Cairns, Lord Garmoyle (later the 2nd Earl Cairns). Cairns soon broke off the engagement under pressure from his friends, and Fortescue returned to the stage in leading roles.

With the £10,000 that she received in her breach of promise lawsuit, Fortescue started her own touring theatre company, often performing the plays of W. S. Gilbert. Coincidentally, Gilbert visited Fortescue on the day he died. Her acting career continued until 1926.

Born Emily May Finney in Kensington, London, to a coal merchant father, Fortescue was educated as a lady, but following her father's business failure she became an actress to support her mother and sister, who became an actress under the name Helen Ferrers.

Fortescue first joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company at the Opera Comique in London, at the age of 19, in the original production of Gilbert and Sullivan's opera Patience, in April 1881, originating the role of Lady Ella. When the company transferred in October 1881 to the new Savoy Theatre, Fortescue moved with it, creating the small role of Celia in Iolanthe when it received its premiere in November 1882.

Fortescue, admired for her beauty, quickly became a favourite of male members of the Savoy's audience. In early 1883, an officer of the Hussars claimed that he was having an affair with her. When W. S. Gilbert learned of this, he found the man and forced him to sign a public apology admitting that the rumour was false and to pay the costs of a lawsuit by Fortescue. Soon afterwards, in a case of life imitating art, since her character, Celia, captivates and marries an Earl (which was much remarked upon in the press), Fortescue captured the interest of young Arthur William Cairns, Lord Garmoyle (later the 2nd Earl Cairns), who had seen her on stage in Iolanthe. He proposed marriage, and she accepted, leaving the Savoy at the end of August 1883. Fortescue never appeared in another comic opera.

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