Conti, Italia (1874–1946)

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Conti, Italia (1874–1946)

English actress and acting teacher. Born 1874 in London, England; died Feb 8, 1946; dau. of Luigi Conti and Emily Mary (Castle) Conti; greatniece of Italian soprano Angelica Catalani (1780–1849).

Made stage debut as a juvenile in The Last Word (1891), followed by The Happy Hypocrite and Paolo and Francesca, among others; came to prominence with portrayal of Rosalind in As You Like It (1903); other plays include The Conqueror, Maternité, Hamilton's Second Marriage, Hannele and At Santa Lucia; engaged by Charles Hawtrey at the Savoy to train children and arrange the fairy scenes for Where the Rainbow Ends (1911); from then on, ran an actor's training school for children for such pupils as Noel Coward, Brian Ahearne, Freddie Bartholomew, Anton Dolin, Jack Hawkins, Gertrude Lawrence, Jane Baxter, Elissa Landi and Margaret Lockwood.