10 Facts About Marie Prescott

Marie Prescott was an American stage actress and playwright.

Marie Prescott is best known for starring in and co-producing Vera; or, The Nihilists, the first play by Oscar Wilde.

Marie Prescott married in 1869 and, between 1870 and 1873, gave birth to three sons, one of whom died in infancy.

Marie Prescott found work in a number of stock companies, appearing alongside such stars as Lawrence Barrett and Dion Boucicault, and between 1880 and 1883, toured with the Italian tragedian Tommaso Salvini and her own companies.

In October 1882, Marie Prescott sued the American News Company for publishing provocative stories about her private life, leading to a high-profile court case.

Marie Prescott won the case and was awarded $12,500 in damages, though the judgment was later overturned.

Josephine Guy has argued that Marie Prescott was not the "compliant collaborator" that she has often been characterised to be, and, though cordial in her dealings with Wilde, was assertive during contract negotiations and discussions about edits to the script.

Marie Prescott defended the production in an open letter to the press, but Vera failed to attract an audience and she and Perzel were obliged to withdraw it within a week.

Marie Prescott began co-starring with the wealthy amateur actor R D MacLean in 1886.

Marie Prescott retired from the stage in April 1893 and died in August that year after an unsuccessful operation.