# Mary Brough > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mary_Brough > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mary_Brough.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Brough > Source revision: 1356033097 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|English actress (1863–1934)}} {{Use British English|date=October 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Mary Brough | image = Mary Brough 1910s.jpg | image_size = | caption = Brough in the 1910s | birth_name = Mary Bessie Brough | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1863|04|14}} | birth_place = [London, England](/source/London%2C_England) | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1934|09|30|1863|04|14}} | death_place = [Stockwell](/source/Stockwell), [South London](/source/South_London), England | resting_place = [West Norwood Cemetery](/source/West_Norwood_Cemetery) | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1881–1934 | spouse = | parents = [Lionel Brough](/source/Lionel_Brough) | relatives = [Fanny Brough](/source/Fanny_Brough) (cousin) | children = }} '''Mary Bessie Brough''' (16 April 1863 – 30 September 1934) was an English actress in theatre, [silent films](/source/silent_films) and early [talkies](/source/talkies), including eleven of the twelve [Aldwych farce](/source/Aldwych_farce)s of the 1920s and early 1930s. The daughter of a well-known actor, [Lionel Brough](/source/Lionel_Brough), with a long theatrical family tradition, she became a professional actress in December 1881. Although she was in regular demand in character parts she did not become well known to theatre-goers until she was nearly sixty. In 1922 she was cast in a small part in a farce, ''[Tons of Money](/source/Tons_of_Money_(play))'', which was followed by a ten-year series of new farces at the [Aldwych Theatre](/source/Aldwych_Theatre) for which the actor-manager [Tom Walls](/source/Tom_Walls) assembled a regular company of players, including Brough. The playwright [Ben Travers](/source/Ben_Travers) wrote parts expressly to suit her persona; she recorded several of them in films of the farces. ==Life and career== Brough was born in London, the eldest daughter of the actor [Lionel Brough](/source/Lionel_Brough) and his wife Margaret, ''née'' Simpson.Parker, p. 115 The family's stage traditions extended well beyond her father. ''[The Times](/source/The_Times)'' said of Mary Brough, "she was a granddaughter of one dramatist, the niece of two others and the first cousin of several men and women of the theatre, of whom the best remembered is Miss [Fanny Brough](/source/Fanny_Brough).""Obituary – Miss Mary Brough, a versatile comic actress", ''The Times'', 1 October 1934, p. 17 Brough made her stage debut on the same day and in the same production as [Lillie Langtry](/source/Lillie_Langtry): ''[She Stoops to Conquer](/source/She_Stoops_to_Conquer)'' at the [Theatre Royal, Haymarket](/source/Theatre_Royal%2C_Haymarket). Lionel Brough played Tony Lumpkin; his daughter played the unnamed maid. She worked for leading managements, including those of [J. L. Toole](/source/J._L._Toole), [Herbert Beerbohm Tree](/source/Herbert_Beerbohm_Tree), [Charles Frohman](/source/Charles_Frohman) and [Cyril Maude](/source/Cyril_Maude). Her roles varied from the classics to new light comedies, and the popular [melodrama](/source/melodrama)s at [Drury Lane](/source/Theatre_Royal%2C_Drury_Lane). Her only Shakespearean part was Mistress Quickly in ''[Henry IV, Part 1](/source/Henry_IV%2C_Part_1)'' (1914); she played in two [Dickens](/source/Charles_Dickens) dramatisations, as Clara Peggoty in ''[David Copperfield](/source/David_Copperfield)'' and Mrs Bedwin in ''[Oliver Twist](/source/Oliver_Twist)'' (both 1915). ''The Times'' singled out for mention her performances in [Arnold Bennett](/source/Arnold_Bennett)'s ''What the Public Wants'' (1909), [F. Anstey](/source/F._Anstey)'s ''The Brass Bottle'' (1909), ''Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford'' (1913), ''Mr. Wu'' (1916), ''Lord and Lady Algy'' (1917), ''London Pride'' (1917), and ''The Young Person in Pink (1920)''. But ''[The Manchester Guardian](/source/The_Manchester_Guardian)'' commented that popular fame came to her when nearly sixty, cast in the small role of Benita Mullet alongside [Ralph Lynn](/source/Ralph_Lynn), [Tom Walls](/source/Tom_Walls) and [Robertson Hare](/source/Robertson_Hare) in ''[Tons of Money](/source/Tons_of_Money_(play))'' in 1922. She made a great success in the part and became a key member of the team that Walls assembled for the [Aldwych farce](/source/Aldwych_farce)s that ran nearly continuously from 1923 to 1933."Obituary – Miss Mary Brough", ''The Manchester Guardian'', 1 October 1934, p. 10 In these, she played Mrs Spoker in ''[A Cuckoo in the Nest](/source/A_Cuckoo_in_the_Nest)'' (1925), Mrs Leverett in ''[Rookery Nook](/source/Rookery_Nook_(play))'' (1926), Mrs Frush in ''[Thark](/source/Thark_(play))'' (1927), Mrs Hewlett in ''[Plunder](/source/Plunder_(play))'' (1928), Mrs Tutt in ''[A Cup of Kindness](/source/A_Cup_of_Kindness_(play))'' (1929), Mrs Decent in ''[A Night Like This](/source/A_Night_Like_This_(play))'' (1930), Mrs Chattaway in ''[Marry the Girl](/source/Marry_the_Girl_(play))'' (1931), Mrs Gather in ''[Turkey Time](/source/Turkey_Time_(play))'' (1931), Mrs Bugle in ''[Dirty Work](/source/Dirty_Work_(play))'' (1932), Madame Heffer in ''[Fifty-Fifty](/source/Fifty-Fifty_(play))'' (1932), and Mrs Rusby in ''[A Bit of a Test](/source/A_Bit_of_a_Test)'' (1933)."Aldwych Theatre", ''The Times'', 23 July 1925, p. 12; 1 July 1926, p. 14; 5 July 1927, p. 14; 27 June 1928, p. 4; 8 May 1929, p. 14; 19 February 1930, p. 12; 6 September 1931, p. 10; 8 March 1932, p. 12; 6 September 1932, p. 10; and 31 January 1933, p. 8 Brough appeared in more than 60 films, both silent and talkies, where she was best known for her comic characterisations, playing fearsome women in [farces](/source/farces); some were [Cockney](/source/Cockney); some were aristocratic; others were [parvenu](/source/parvenu); some were sympathetic and some were monstrous, but all were formidable. Films included her debut ''[Beauty and the Barge](/source/Beauty_and_the_Barge_(1914_film))'' (1914), also: ''[A Sister to Assist 'Er](/source/A_Sister_to_Assist_'Er_(1922_film))'' (1922 silent version), ''[His Grace Gives Notice](/source/His_Grace_Gives_Notice_(1924_film))'' (1924), ''[Rookery Nook](/source/Rookery_Nook_(film))'' (1930) and ''[Tons of Money](/source/Tons_of_Money_(1930_film))'' (1930).[https://web.archive.org/web/20120711184728/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2ba12e4e8a Mary Brough filmography], British Film Institute. Retrieved 2 February 2013 At Easter 1934, Brough was playing in a new farce, ''Indoor Fireworks'' at the Aldwych, when she was taken ill in her dressing room."Mary Brough To Rest", ''Dundee Courier'', 2 May 1934, p. 5 She was nursed at her home in [Stockwell](/source/Stockwell)"Mary Brough Dead", ''Dundee Courier'', 1 October 1934, p. 5 south London, where she died at the age of 71. She was interred in the family vault at [West Norwood Cemetery](/source/West_Norwood_Cemetery) with her father, mother and grandmother."News in Brief", ''The Times'', 2 October 1934, p. 12 A memorial service was held at [St Martin-in-the-Fields](/source/St_Martin-in-the-Fields) on 4 October."Funeral of Miss Mary Brough", ''The Times'', 4 October 1934, p. 10"Mary Brough Memorial", ''Western Daily Press'', 5 October 1934, p. 12 ==Selected filmography== {{Div col}} * ''[The Brass Bottle](/source/The_Brass_Bottle_(1914_film))'' (1914) * ''[Beauty and the Barge](/source/Beauty_and_the_Barge_(1914_film))'' (1914) * ''[Lawyer Quince](/source/Lawyer_Quince_(1914_film))'' (1914) * ''[Masks and Faces](/source/Masks_and_Faces)'' (1917) * ''[London Pride](/source/London_Pride_(film))'' (1920) * ''[The Law Divine](/source/The_Law_Divine)'' (1920) * ''[Judge Not](/source/Judge_Not_(1920_film))'' (1920) * ''[The Fordington Twins](/source/The_Fordington_Twins)'' (1920) * ''[Enchantment](/source/Enchantment_(1920_film))'' (1920) * ''[John Forrest Finds Himself](/source/John_Forrest_Finds_Himself)'' (1920) * ''[The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss](/source/The_Amazing_Quest_of_Mr._Ernest_Bliss)'' (1920) * ''[Demos](/source/Demos_(film))'' (1921) * ''[The Golden Dawn](/source/The_Golden_Dawn_(film))'' (1921) * ''[The Diamond Necklace](/source/The_Diamond_Necklace_(film))'' (1921) * ''[The Bachelor's Club](/source/The_Bachelor's_Club_(1921_film))'' (1921) * ''[The Night Hawk](/source/The_Night_Hawk_(1921_film))'' (1921) * ''[The Tinted Venus](/source/The_Tinted_Venus)'' (1921) * ''[Tit for Tat](/source/Tit_for_Tat_(1921_film))'' (1921) * ''[The Will](/source/The_Will_(1921_film))'' (1921) * ''[The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick](/source/The_Adventures_of_Mr._Pickwick)'' (1921) * ''[All Sorts and Conditions of Men](/source/All_Sorts_and_Conditions_of_Men)'' (1921) * ''[The Old Wives' Tale](/source/The_Old_Wives'_Tale_(film))'' (1921) * ''[Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep](/source/Squibs_Wins_the_Calcutta_Sweep)'' (1922) * ''[A Sister to Assist 'Er](/source/A_Sister_to_Assist_'Er_(1922_film))'' (1922) * ''[The School for Scandal](/source/The_School_for_Scandal_(1923_film))'' (1923) * ''[Lights of London](/source/Lights_of_London_(1923_film))'' (1923) * ''[Married Love](/source/Married_Love_(film))'' (1923) * ''[Lily of the Alley](/source/Lily_of_the_Alley)'' (1924) * ''[Miriam Rozella](/source/Miriam_Rozella)'' (1924) * ''[Not for Sale](/source/Not_for_Sale_(film))'' (1924) * ''[The Alley of Golden Hearts](/source/The_Alley_of_Golden_Hearts)'' (1924) * ''[His Grace Gives Notice](/source/His_Grace_Gives_Notice_(1924_film))'' (1924) * ''[The Only Way](/source/The_Only_Way_(1927_film))'' (1925) * ''[Safety First](/source/Safety_First)'' (1926) * ''[Tons of Money](/source/Tons_of_Money_(1926_film))'' (1926) * ''[A Sister to Assist 'Er](/source/A_Sister_to_Assist_'Er_(1927_film))'' (1927) * ''[Sailors Don't Care](/source/Sailors_Don't_Care_(1928_film))'' (1928) * ''[Dawn](/source/Dawn_(1928_film))'' (1928) * ''[The Physician](/source/The_Physician_(1928_film))'' (1928) * ''[The Passing of Mr. Quin](/source/The_Passing_of_Mr._Quin)'' (1929) * ''[Master and Man](/source/Master_and_Man_(1929_film))'' (1929) * ''[Wait and See](/source/Wait_and_See_(1928_film))'' (1929) * ''[The Broken Melody](/source/The_Broken_Melody_(1929_film))'' (1929) * ''[A Sister to Assist 'Er](/source/A_Sister_to_Assist_'Er_(1930_film))'' (1930) * ''[Tons of Money](/source/Tons_of_Money_(1930_film))'' (1930) * ''[Rookery Nook](/source/Rookery_Nook_(film))'' (1930) * ''[On Approval](/source/On_Approval_(1930_film))'' (1930) * ''[Plunder](/source/Plunder_(1931_film))'' (1931) * ''[A Night Like This](/source/A_Night_Like_This_(1932_film))'' (1932) * ''[Thark](/source/Thark_(film))'' (1932) * ''[A Cuckoo in the Nest](/source/A_Cuckoo_in_the_Nest_(film))'' (1933) * ''[Up to the Neck](/source/Up_to_the_Neck)'' (1933) * ''[Turkey Time](/source/Turkey_Time_(1933_film))'' (1933) {{Div col end}} ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==References== * {{cite book|editor-last= Parker|editor-first=John |year= 1925|title=Who's Who in the Theatre |edition=fifth|location=London |publisher=Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons |oclc=10013159}} ==External links== * {{IMDb name | id=0112654 | name=Mary Brough}} * {{Tcmdb name}} * [http://www.britishpictures.com/godfrey/card08.htm Mary Brough picture card] {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Brough, Mary}} Category:1863 births Category:1934 deaths Category:19th-century English actresses Category:20th-century English actresses Category:Actresses from London Category:Aldwych farce Category:Burials at West Norwood Cemetery Category:English film actresses Category:English silent film actresses Category:English stage actresses --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mary Brough](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Brough) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Brough?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.