She immediately began to study for the stage and appeared
as Lady Macbeth in Manchester in 1873. In 1893 Sir Henry Irving engaged her and she was recognized as one of our greatest actresses. She had an astonishing success on the Continent, for she was an accomplished linguist. When playing Macbeth in French at Paris, at Regnier's request she did the sleep-walking scene in 'Modish to prove to the audience that she was not a Frenchwoman. Her presence on the stage was majestic. She was a tragic actress of the grand manner and in the Skldcuss tradition. At the age of 83 she was still acting Shakespearean parts occasionally at the "Old Vic." On the occasion of her 84th birthday she was made a Dame of the British Empire for her services to dramatic art.