A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Woffington, (Margaret)
WOFFINGTON (MARGARET), a celebrated Actress, was born at Dublin, 1718.
For her education, in the very early part of her life, she was indebted to Madame Violanté, a French woman, of good reputation, and famous for feats of agility. From her instructions, she learned that easy action and graceful deportment, which she afterwards endeavoured, with unremitting application, to improve. When the Beggar's Opera was first acted at Dublin it was so much applauded and admired, that all ranks of people flocked to see it. A company of children, under the title of Lilliputians, were encouraged to represent this favourite piece at the Theatre Royal; and Miss Woffington then in the tenth year of her age, made a very distinguished figure among them.
She appeared, for the first time, at Covent-Garden theatre, in 1738. She chose the character of Sir Harry Wildair, and acted it with ease, elegance, and propriety of deportment; so that it proved quite fashionable to see her in this character.
Her chief merit consisted in the representation of females in high rank, and of dignified elegance, whose graces in deportment, as well as foibles, she understood, and displayed in a very lively and pleasing manner.
But she did not confine herself to them; she loved to shew ignorance combined with absurdity, and to play with petulance and folly, with peevishness and vulgarity.
As, in her profession, she aimed at attaining general excellence, she studied several parts of the most pathetic, as well as lofty class in tragedy; and resolved to perfect herself in the grace and grandeur of the French theatre. With this view she visited Paris, where she was introduced to Mademoiselle Dumesnil, an actress, celebrated for natural elocution and dignified action.
On her return, she acted with approbation some parts in tragedy; but she never could attain to that happy art of speaking, nor reach that skill of touching the passions, so justly admired in Cibber and Pritchard. Old Colley, her master, who at the age of seventy professed himself her humble admirer, taught her to recite so pompously, that nature and passion were not seldom sacrificed to a false glare of eloquence.
Mr. Garrick's acquaintance with her commenced in Ireland: he became patentee of Drury-lane, in 1747, she was one of the articled comedians of Mr. Lacy; but, as he brought with him, from Covent-Garden, Mrs. Cibber and Mrs. Pritchard, she thought her continuing would be attended with disagreeable contentions for characters. She had many disputes with Mrs. Clive; and, by apparent good-breeding, calmness, and sarcastic replies, often obtained the advantage of the other, who was more warm and open. Their contests occasioned very grotesque scenes in the green-room.
After acting a few years with Mr. Rich, she engaged herself, in 1751, to Mr. Sheridan, manager of the Dublin theatre. Here she continued three years, and was the admiration of the public in a variety of parts, tragic and comic. Her company was sought after by men of the first rank and distinction; of the gravest character, and the most eminent for learning. She was said to have been chosen president of a select society of beaux-ésprits, called the Beef-Steak Club, and was the only woman in the company.
She declared, that she preferred the company of men to that of women: the latter, she said, talked of nothing but silks and scandal. This was most likely occasioned by her not being admitted to the company of women of rank and virtue; which her own want of character excluded her from. Indeed it appears that, though her charms of person and conversation universally gained her admiration, her conduct was not such as to make her even partially respected.
Mrs. Woffington was mistress of a good understanding, which was much improved by company and books. She had a most attractive sprightliness in her manner, and dearly loved to pursue the bagatelle of vivacity and humour: she was affable, good-natured and charitable. When she returned to London, in 1756, she once more engaged herself to Mr. Rich; and died, about a year before his death, of a gradual decay.