Mrs Beerbohm Tree

A Woodburytype portrait of the British actress Maud Beerbohm Tree (1863-1937). Born Helen Maud Holt in London in 1863, she was known professionally as Mrs Beerbohm Tree and later Lady Tree. She was the wife of the actor Herbert Beerbohm Tree and the mother of Viola Tree, Felicity Tree and Iris Tree.

After early stage appearances beginning in 1883, Mrs Tree married and established a theatrical partnership with her husband, in which they appeared in revivals of classic plays and productions of new plays, first at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, then at Her Majesty's Theatre. Her performances in serious roles were well received, but she was most celebrated for her work in comedy, from Shakespeare to new works by Wilde and others.

After her husband's death in 1917, Lady Tree continued to act steadily for almost two decades more, in plays and some films, making her last stage appearance in 1935.

Photographed by St James's Photographic Company and published in May 1884.