Nellie Wallace
Encyclopedia
Nellie Wallace was a British music hall
star. She was born in Glasgow
in 1870 as Eleanor Jane Wallace and first performed on the stage as a clog dancer at the age of 12. Her career lasted until her death in 1948, as she appeared in the Royal Command Performance
of that year.
Her main character was as a frustrated spinster
, singing ribald songs such as Under the Bed and Let's Have a Tiddley at the Milk Bar. Her grotesque appearance made her unusually successful as a pantomime dame
— a role usually performed by men. She usually wore a fur stole which she described as her "little bit of vermin".
She had married actor William Henry Liddy in 1895. Wallace died in a London nursing home on 24 November 1948 aged 78 just after her only daughter who had died in March 1948.
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
star. She was born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
in 1870 as Eleanor Jane Wallace and first performed on the stage as a clog dancer at the age of 12. Her career lasted until her death in 1948, as she appeared in the Royal Command Performance
Royal Command Performance
For the annual Royal Variety Performance performed in Britain for the benefit of the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, see Royal Variety Performance...
of that year.
Her main character was as a frustrated spinster
Spinster
A spinster, or old maid, is an older, childless woman who has never been married.For a woman to be identified as a spinster, age is critical...
, singing ribald songs such as Under the Bed and Let's Have a Tiddley at the Milk Bar. Her grotesque appearance made her unusually successful as a pantomime dame
Pantomime dame
A pantomime dame is a traditional character in British pantomime. It is a continuation of en travesti portrayal of female characters by male actors in drag. They are often played either in an extremely camp style, or else by men acting 'butch' in women's clothing...
— a role usually performed by men. She usually wore a fur stole which she described as her "little bit of vermin".
She had married actor William Henry Liddy in 1895. Wallace died in a London nursing home on 24 November 1948 aged 78 just after her only daughter who had died in March 1948.