Porter, Mary (d. 1765)

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Porter, Mary (d. 1765)

English actress. Birth date unknown; died on February 24, 1765.

Mary Porter was brought to the attention of actor-playwright Thomas Betterton by actress Elizabeth Barry , who had seen her play the Fairy Queen at Bartholomew Fair. With Betterton's company, Porter made her first appearance in 1709; the play was a tragedy, in which she specialized, but she would also be seen in a long string of comedies. After her friends Elizabeth Barry, Anne Bracegirdle and Anne Oldfield retired from the stage, Porter was left its undisputed queen.

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