THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Elaine Inescort

Elaine Inescort (1899)

[Born London 13 Jan 1879, died Brighton, Sussex 7 Jul 1964]

Elaine Inescort, whose real name was Charlotte Elizabeth Ihle, made her professional debut with D'Oyly Carte Opera Company "D" on tour as Zinnia in The Lucky Star, February-September 1899. It was her only appearance with the D'Oyly Carte organization.

After leaving the D'Oyly Carte she toured in San Toy, 1899-1900.Her first London engagement was with Herbert Beerbohm Tree at His Majesty's Theatre in 1903, appearing as Nu, the singing girl, in The Darling of the Gods.She would continue to appear, primarily in legitimate theatre, in the British Isles, America, South Africa, and Australia, for the next thirty years.After eleven years absence from the London Stage, she returned to portray the mother in Shaw's Pygmalion at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, December 1944-January 1945.Her last role in London was the Archduchess in the fairy tale The Sleeping Prince (Phoenix Theatre, November 1953-July 1954).

Her first marriage to D'Oyly Carte chorister John Wightman ended in divorce.Their daughter, Frieda Inescort became a well-known stage and screen actress.

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