Maudi Darrell
Actor
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Maudi Darrell (born Maud Rhoda Didcott, 10 February 1882 – 31 October 1910) was an English actress on the London and New York stages, and a performer in vaudeville. She was one of the fashionable young women known as "Gaiety Girls".
10 February 1882
Maudi Darrell | |
|---|---|
 Maudi Darrell, from a 1908 publication. | |
| Born | Maud Rhoda Didcott 10 February 1882 London, England, U.K. |
| Died | 31 October 1910 (aged 28) |
| Occupations | Actress, Gaiety Girl |
Early life
Maud Rhoda Didcott was born in London in 1882, the daughter of Hugh Jay Didcott and Rose Fox. Her father was a theatrical agent, and her mother was a dancer who had a novelty act involving singing while skipping rope.[1][2] Her father was Jewish, but Maudi Didcott was educated at the Sion House Convent at Bayswater.[3] Her sister Violet Raye was also an actress.[4][5]
Career
Maudi Darrell appeared in popular musicals and comedies, including The Beauty of Bath (1906),[6] Mrs. Ponderbury's Past (1907),[7] The Cassilis Engagement (1907),[8] The Gay Gordons (1908), and The Belle of Brittany (1908).[9] Her signature song was "By the Side of the Zuyder Zee", from The Beauty of Bath.[10] She was a popular "postcard actress", with portraits of her sold in postcard format.[8] "Her appearance has the peculiar exotic beauty of a Beardsley drawing," noted one critic, "if she appealed to a boy at all, she would appeal with great force."[11] She had a valuable collection of diamonds, and the "Maharaja of Kuch Behar" (Sir Nripendra Narayan) presented Miss Darrell with "the finest emerald in England", in admiration for her beauty.[12][13]
Personal life
Maudi Darrell married Scottish-born mill owner Ian Bullough in 1909.[14][15] She died the following year, from complications of a paralysis of unknown origin and acute appendicitis, aged 28 years.[3] Her widower married again in 1911, to actress Lily Elsie.[16] There were reports that Elsie fell ill from the same illness as Maudi Darrell, almost immediately after marrying Bullough.[17]
