Peggy Pryde (born 19 July 1867 (baptised as Letitia Matilda on 14 May 1876 in Lambeth, London, England[1]– 17 May 1943 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia)[2] was a British music hall performer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She appeared in the early Australiantalking filmFellers in 1930.
Pryde was one of three children born to the popular music hall artiste Jenny Hill and John Wilson Woodley (died 8 January 1890), an acrobat who used the stage name Jean Pasta and who later abandoned his wife and young family.
"Peggy Pryde would probably not have become famous in the variety "perfesh" if she had not been the daughter of that veteran and high priced music hall singer, Jennie Hill. Miss Pryde is pert, vivacious, sprightly and piquant. Her forte is serio-comic business, and she has made a great success of it. She is English, and while she was in New York Jennie Hill, "The Vital Spark," objected to her having her billed as her daughter, but Miss Pryde has now reached that point where she does not require anybody's reflected glory. She is earning money very fast, and is saving it too."[4]
A scene from Two Minutes Silence (1933) - Ethel Gabriel (left), Eva Moss and Peggy Pryde (right)
She married Maurice De Frece, a well-known theatrical agent.[5] In May 1898 Pryde made her Australian debut for Harry Rickards, touring for six months, which required her to delay other engagements: "My Australian and South African engagements having already been made of course I was unable to accept. My season in Africa was a big success and I was re engaged for an extra month the first time I believe such a compliment had been paid to any artist. Indeed at the present time I should be appearing at Syndicate Halls, but they kindly postponed to allow me to play this engagement here."[3]
