Hilda Moody
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Hilda Moody (16 June 1876–21 September 1961)[1] was an English singer and actress who, after a brief career in a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring company in 1896, appeared as the leading lady in Edwardian musical comedy at Daly's Theatre and the Apollo Theatre in London until 1903. She later appeared with the Moody-Manners Opera Company and continued to perform until at least 1909.
Hilda Moody was born in Redruth in Cornwall in 1876,[2] the youngest of thirteen children of Eliza and James Hawke Moody (1823–1887),[3] a photographer.[4] It was said that her father could play any instrument he had ever seen; her mother Eliza was a pianist, and the whole Moody family were musical.[3] By the age of 13 Moody was already showing musical promise.[3] On 23 December 1886, with other members of her family, she took part in an entertainment at the United Methodist Free Church school room at Stithians, to a large audience. On that occasion she sang 'Darby and Joan' and a duet, 'The broom-girls', with her sister Mabel, which "evoked an unmistakable encore".[5] In 1891 she and Mabel were residential students at Grove House Academy in Baldock in Hertfordshire.[6] Another sister, Fanny, married the singer Charles Manners.[4]
In March 1896 Moody appeared in the British provinces with a D'Oyly Carte Opera Company touring company,[1] playing Lisa in The Grand Duke. Later that year she played The Princess of Monte Carlo in the same piece.[7] In October 1896 Moody toured with the same company as the lead soprano, Princess Zara, in Utopia, Limited. Moody left D'Oyly Carte when her touring company ended its run in November 1896.[8]
