Pauline Chase

Pauline Chase (born Pauline Bliss; May 20, 1885 – March 15, 1962) was an American actress who performed on the stage in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She added the names "Ellen" and "Matthew" to hers when she was baptised in the Church of England in 1906, from her godparents, the actress Ellen Terry and author James Matthew Barrie.[1] She is known for her extended run in the title role of British productions of Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up.

Pauline Chase
Chase c. 1905
Born
Pauline Bliss

(1885-05-20)May 20, 1885
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedMarch 15, 1962(1962-03-15) (aged 76)
Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1914; died 1937)​
Children3

Biography

She was born Pauline Bliss in Washington, D.C. on May 20, 1885, the daughter of Dr. Ellis Bliss. She was schooled at the Convent of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in New York.[2]

She began acting at the age of 15. She played one of the Lost Boys in the debut of Peter Pan in London in 1904. She was later selected by producer Charles Frohman and playwright J. M. Barrie for the title role, which she played from 1906–1913.[3][4] The Peter Pan costume she wore for the productions of the play is on display at the Museum of London.[5]

She retired from the stage after the Christmas run of Peter Pan ended in 1913 to marry banker Captain Alexander Victor Drummond. They had three children.[3]

She came out of retirement in 1916 for her only screen appearance in The Real Thing at Last, a satirical film scripted by Barrie and shown at a benefit for the YMCA, attended by members of the British royal family.[3]

She was said to have had an affair with explorer Robert Falcon Scott before he was married.[6]

She died in Royal Tunbridge Wells, England in 1962.[7]

References
  1. Mackail, Denis The Story of J.M.B (p385) Peter Davies (1941)
  2. http://www.stagebeauty.net/th-main.html
  3. StageBeauty.net web site, Don Gillan
  4. A 1909 New York Times news article about Barrie's divorce refers to the couple adopting her though Barrie biographers make no note of this happening. StageBeauty.net refers to her as Barrie's god-daughter.
  5. https://collections.museumoflondon.org.uk/online/object/131342.html
  6. Mackail, Denis The Story of J.M.B (p381) Peter Davies (1941)
  7. "Pauline Chase, 76, Actress In Britain". New York Times. March 5, 1962. Retrieved 2010-04-17. Pauline Chase, 76, American born actress who played the title role in ...
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