Lily Hanbury

Who was Lily Hanbury?

Lily Hanbury was an English stage performer.

Hanbury was born Lily Alcock, the daughter of Elizabeth and Matthew Henry Alcock. Educated in London, her début was in an 1888 revival of W. S. Gilbert's Pygmalion and Galatea; and later she appeared on most of the leading stages of the English metropolis. Her extensive repertory included, 'Countess Wintersen' in The Stranger; 'Hetty Preene' in G. R. Sims' Lights o' London; and 'Petra' in Ibsen's Enemy of the People'.

She reached her peak in popularity, however, by playing a number or roles in Shakespearian plays, mainly under the management of Wilson Barrett and Beerbohm Tree.

Hanbury died of medical complications following the delivery of a still-born child. Following cremation, Hanbury's ashes were interred at the Jewish Cemetery at Willesden, England.

Hanbury's younger sister, Hilda, also an actress and one time member of Herbert Beerbohm Tree's theatrical company, is the grandmother of Edward Fox and great-grandmother of Freddie Fox, Emilia Fox and Laurence Fox.