Bellamy, George Anne

Bellamy, George Anne (c.1727–88), English actress, who received her first names from a mishearing of Georgiana at her christening. She is believed to have made her first appearance on the stage at Covent Garden in 1744 in Otway's The Orphan, but may have been seen there two years earlier as Miss Prue in Congreve's Love for Love. She was at her best in romantic and tragic parts, being an admirable Juliet to the Romeo of Garrick, who made her one of his leading ladies at Drury Lane, though she had little professional integrity and much of her success was due to her youth and beauty. Arrogant and extravagant, she was twice married, once bigamously, and because of the scandals in which she was involved, and the loss of her looks through dissipation, managers became chary of engaging her. Though held in little esteem by the public or her fellow-actors, she continued to appear intermittently until her retirement in 1785. A six-volume Apology for her life (1785), edited by another hand, is readable rather than reliable.