Fay Davis(1872-1945)

American born classical stage and film actress Fay Davis was born in Boston in 1872. She attended the Winthrop school in Boston and a school of oratory, she studied under the monologist Leland Powers and became well-known as a reciter in the New England era and began acting as an amateur in her hometown. Fay arrived in England in 1895 to join Sir Charles Wyndham's classical theatre company and she quickly achieved success starring as Zoe Nuggetson in 'A Squire of Dames'. In 1896 she went to the St. James's Theatre where she remained for five years and starred for the first time in many Shakespearian roles. In 1902 she returned to the America and starred as Wilhelmina in 'Imprudence' at the Empire Theatre under the management of Charles Frohman. She returned to England in 1906 and starred in many London stage plays, which include 'Rupert of Hentzau', 'The Wisdom of the Wise', 'Iris', 'Henry V', 'Romeo and Juliet', 'Ceasar's Wife', 'Twelfth Night' and many more. Fay starred in three movies for the Neptune Film Co in 1914-15, the first 'Her Only Son' directed by her husband actor/director Gerald Lawrence and co-starred Gregory Scott, followed by 'Enoch Arden' directed by Percy Nash and her last screen appearance was in 'The Little Minister' in 1915. Fay was still highly popular on stage through the 1920's and early 1930's with 'The Heart of a Child' in 1921, 'The Second Mrs. Tanqueray in 1922, 'Hamlet' in 1930 and her final stage appearance 'The Shadow Princess' and 'On the Rocks' at the Winter Garden Theatre in London in 1933. Fay died in Exmouth, England in 1945 age 73.