12 Facts About Anne Oldfield

Anne Oldfield was an English actress and one of the highest paid actresses of her time.

Anne Oldfield's grandfather owned a tavern and left her father several properties, he however mortgaged these which resulted in Anne and her mother being placed in financial difficulty when he died young.

Anne Oldfield played the title role in Ben Jonson's Epicoene, and Celia in his Volpone.

In 1706 Anne Oldfield came into conflict with the Drury Lane's management over benefits and salary she believed she had been promised, but which the theatre refused to pay.

Anne Oldfield left and joined the competing acting company at Haymarket Theatre before returning to Drury Lane shortly after with a fresh contract and a new position as joint-sharer of the Drury Lane Theatre.

Anne Oldfield supported her career by helping her work through new roles and by writing more than a dozen prologues and epilogues for her to perform.

Anne Oldfield kept acting until she was physically unable, which was unusual for the time.

Anne Oldfield went back to work just three months after the birth.

Anne Oldfield arranged for her lifelong friend, Margaret Saunders, to join the acting profession.

Anne Oldfield was three months pregnant at the time, but her child is not believed to have survived the birth.

However, during this pregnancy, Anne Oldfield was unable to continue acting due to her health, and was forced to leave the theatre for several months.

Anne Oldfield was buried in Westminster Abbey, beneath the monument to Congreve.