Jane Green

Who was Jane Green?

Jane Hippisley, subsequently Mrs. Green, was an English actress.

Jane made her first appearance at her father, John Hippisley's, benefit, Covent Garden Theatre, on 18 March 1735, as Cherry in ‘The Stratagem.’ She rose to eminence; was Garrick's Ophelia in his first season at Goodman's Fields; was, as Miss Hippisley, the original Kitty Pry in the ‘Lying Valet,’ and Biddy in ‘Miss in her Teens;’ and as Mrs. Green, which name she took in 1747–8, was the first Mrs. Malaprop.

Among her characters were Miss Prue, Anne Page, Perdita, Ophelia, Miss Hoyden, Nerissa, Æmilia, Doll Tearsheet, Duenna, and Mrs. Hardcastle. She played in Dublin in 1751–2, and probably in 1753–4, and acted the ‘Irish Widow’ at Bristol so late as 4 July 1781. But for the rivalry of Mrs. Clive, she would have been the best representative on the stage of old ladies and abigails. Her farewell of the London stage took place 26 May 1780, as Mrs. Hardcastle. She died at her house at Jacob's Well, Bristol, in the winter of 1791.