The Lennox sisters were four eighteenth-century British aristocrats, the daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond (1701–1750) by his wife Lady Sarah Cadogan (1705–1751).
39-580: Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster (6 October 1731 – 27 March 1814), known before 1747 as Lady Emily Lennox , from 1747 to 1761 as The Countess of Kildare and from 1761 to 1766 as The Marchioness of Kildare , was the second of the famous Lennox sisters , daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond (who was illegitimately descended from King Charles II of England and one of his mistresses ). Lady Emily married James FitzGerald, 20th Earl of Kildare , on 7 February 1747. After their wedding in London,
78-576: A jointure of £ 4,000 annually (increased from the £3,000 promised in the settlement), and a life interest in Leinster House (Dublin) and Carton (which she exchanged for Frescati House and £40,000) together with all their contents. She had brought the usual ducal daughter's dowry of £10,000, so the jointure and other payments would financially cripple her son, the second Duke of Leinster. The first Duke also made over-generous provisions for his younger sons and all his daughters. Emily also received
117-531: A much- happier second marriage with Hon. George Napier , by whom she had eight children. Cecily Margaret Lennox, sometimes called Cecilia, was born in 1750. Her parents died in 1750 and 1751 when she was only a year old, and Cecilia, along with her sisters Louisa and Sarah, was raised by her sister Emily in Ireland. As a young woman, she fell ill with a wasting disease —possibly tuberculosis —and her older siblings sent her first to Lyons Gate and then to France in
156-692: A vain effort to recover her strength. She died in Paris on 13 November 1769. While four Lennox sisters lived to mature adulthood and a fifth lived until she was 19, three others died in childhood: Louisa Margaret (1725–1728), Anne (1726–1727), and Margaret (1739–1741). The Lennox sisters had two brothers who lived to adulthood, Charles Lennox, 3rd Duke of Richmond (1735–1806), and Lord George Lennox (1737–1805), as well as two others who died in infancy. Si%C3%A2n Phillips Dame Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips DBE (born 14 May 1933), known professionally as Siân Phillips ( / ʃ ɑː n / SHAHN ),
195-777: A young woman and as an older woman, respectively. The series aired in the US on PBS stations under the aegis of the anthology series Masterpiece Theater ; in the UK it aired on the BBC . The series was based on Stella Tillyard 's 1994 biography, Aristocrats: Caroline, Emily, Louisa and Sarah Lennox 1740-1832. Lennox sisters The four sisters were: They all married prominent men and attracted varying degrees of admiration or notoriety. A fifth sister (Cecilia, 1750-1769) died unmarried aged 19, and three others (Louisa Margaret, 1725-1728; Anne, 1726-1727; Margaret, 1739-1741) in childhood. They were
234-484: Is a Welsh actress. Her early career consisted primarily of stage roles, including the title roles in Ibsen 's Hedda Gabler and George Bernard Shaw 's Saint Joan . In the 1960s, she started taking on more roles in television and film. She is particularly known for her performance as Livia in the 1976 BBC television series I, Claudius , for which she was awarded a BAFTA and a Royal Television Society award. She
273-561: Is a theatre practitioner, and Kate is an actress. The couple divorced in 1979, and Phillips wrote about this tempestuous period of her life in Public Places , the second volume of her autobiography. Her third husband was actor Robin Sachs , who was 17 years her junior. Their relationship began in 1975. They were married on Christmas Eve 1979, shortly after her divorce from O'Toole. Phillips and Sachs divorced in 1991. Her great aunt
312-652: Is perhaps best known for starring as Livia in the popular BBC adaptation of Robert Graves 's novel I, Claudius ( BBC2 , 1976), for which she won the 1977 BAFTA Television Award for Best Actress , and for many appearances on the original run of Call My Bluff . She also appeared opposite her then-husband Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton in Becket (1964); as Ursula Mossbank in the musical film Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), again starring O'Toole; once more opposite O'Toole in Murphy's War (1971); as Emmeline Pankhurst in
351-653: The Doctor Who episode " 73 Yards ". Phillips's West End credits include Marlene (in which she portrayed Marlene Dietrich ), Pal Joey , Gigi and A Little Night Music . She has also appeared on the American stage in Marlene . Her National Theatre performances have included: She provided spoken-word backing to a track on Rufus Wainwright 's 2007 album Release the Stars and appeared live with him at
390-646: The National Eisteddfod held at Llandybïe in 1944, where she and a school friend played the parts of two elderly men in a dramatic duologue. She made her first British television appearance at 17 and won a Welsh acting award at 18. In 1953, while still a student at University College, Cardiff she worked as a newsreader and announcer for the BBC in Wales and toured Wales in Welsh-language productions of
429-615: The Old Vic Theatre in London on 31 May/1 June 2007. In 2009 Phillips starred in London's West End production of Calendar Girls . Phillips played Juliet opposite Michael Byrne 's Romeo in Juliet and her Romeo at the Bristol Old Vic from 10 March to 24 April 2010. In January 2011, she appeared in a new cabaret show, Crossing Borders , at Wilton's Music Hall in London. One review said: "Her cabaret shows are always of
SECTION 10
#1732783093125468-1045: The Welsh Arts Council . From 1953 to 1955, Phillips was a member of the BBC Repertory Company and the National Theatre Company and toured Wales performing Welsh and English plays for the Welsh Arts Council. For the Nottingham Playhouse in 1958, she was Masha in Three Sisters . She performed as Princess Siwan in Saunders Lewis 's The King's Daughter at the Hampstead Theatre Club in 1959 and as Katherine in Taming of
507-616: The 1955 Arts Theatre production, I reckoned it impossible to equal within half a century. Like the Irish girl, the Welsh girl is perfect.... 'This girl doesn't act Joan – she is Joan.' In short, perfection." She was Julia in the Royal Shakespeare Company's 1960–1961 version of The Duchess of Malfi . Her Royal Shakespeare Company performances are: Her long career has included many films and television programmes, but she
546-668: The BBC Audio Drama Awards and was given a Radio Lifetime Achievement Award. Phillips was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2000 Birthday Honours and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to drama. In 2024, she and Judi Dench became the first female members of the Garrick Club . Phillips's first husband
585-702: The Bancroft Gold Medal for Hedda Gabler and was offered work in Hollywood when she left RADA. While still a student, she was offered three film contracts to work for an extended period of time in the United States, but she declined, preferring to work on stage. Phillips began acting professionally at the age of 11 with the Home Service of BBC Radio in Wales. At the same age she won her first speech-and-drama award for her performance at
624-862: The London stage in 1957 when she appeared in Hermann Sudermann 's Magda for RADA. Magda , about an opera diva, was her first real success in London. The play did well and benefited her career greatly; although she was only a student at the time, she was the first since Sarah Bernhardt to play the role. In 1957, Phillips performed the title role in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler . West End opening at The Duke of York's Theatre, December 3, 1957, with Fredrik Ohlsson as Tesman. They also performed at Det Nye Teatret in Oslo and at The Vanbrugh, RADA . Many sources consider this her London stage debut but she actually did Magda before Hedda Gabler . In September 1958, she
663-705: The Shrew for the Oxford Playhouse in 1960. She was Princess Siwan again in the BBC's production of Siwan: The King's Daughter alongside Peter O'Toole with Emyr Humphrys as producer. It was broadcast on BBC One (Wales only) on 1 March 1960. From October 1958 to April 1959, she was compere of the Land of Song ( Gwlad y Gân ) monthly programme at TWW (Television Wales and the West) Channel 10 with baritone Ivor Emmanuel . She made her first appearance on
702-667: The TV mini-series Shoulder to Shoulder (1974); as Clementine Churchill in Southern Television's Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981) starring Robert Hardy ; as Lady Ann, the unfaithful wife of Alec Guinness 's character George Smiley , in the BBC1 espionage dramas Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) and Smiley's People (1982), adapted from John le Carré 's eponymous novels; in Nijinsky (1980); and as
741-579: The Time'). Her most recent film is The Gigolos (2006) by Richard Bracewell, in which she played Lady James. In 2010, she appeared in New Tricks in the episode "Coming out Ball" and in 2011 she appeared in the episode "Wild Justice" in the fifth season of the television series Lewis . In 2017, she played Lady Yvette Bristow in the TV series Strike . In 2022, she appeared in the series McDonald & Dodds . In 2024, Phillips portrayed Enid Meadows in
780-447: The couple returned to Fitzgerald's native Ireland, first residing at Leinster House then Carton House . Their marriage was reportedly a happy one, despite Lord Kildare's infidelities. Emily was almost always pregnant, giving birth to nineteen children in just twenty-five years, but only ten lived to mature adulthood: Lord Kildare was created successively Marquess of Kildare and Duke of Leinster in recognition of his contribution to
819-457: The daughters of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond , by his wife Sarah Cadogan (1705–1751), a daughter of General William Cadogan. Their paternal grandfather was an illegitimate son of King Charles II . Georgiana Caroline Lennox was born on 27 March 1723. In 1744, at the age of 21, she eloped with Henry Fox , a Whig politician . He was the brother of Stephen , first Earl of Ilchester , and son of politician Sir Stephen Fox . Though she
SECTION 20
#1732783093125858-485: The first time, in Siân Phillips at 90 , broadcast on BBC One on 1 March. The documentary includes Philips recounting, with candour, the difficulties in the later part of her marriage to O'Toole, which culminated in the ultimatum that she should leave the family home, without their two children, within the space of four hours. In January 2018, Phillips was recognised for her career spanning more than 70 years at
897-578: The more traditional type. She’s had a long and very impressive career, and her show followed its progression, with backstage anecdotes about the people she’s met and worked with along the way. It may not be edgy, but it’s a truly delightful evening, by a truly delightful performer, in a truly delightful venue." In 2015, she played the lead character Fania Fénelon in the Arthur Miller stage version of Playing for Time at Sheffield Theatres . In 2024, Phillips reflected on her life and career, for
936-644: The political life of his country. It was partly the Duke's influence that led to a rift between the Duchess and her eldest sister, Caroline Fox, 1st Baroness Holland . After the death of Lord Kildare on 19 November 1773, Emily married her children's tutor, William Ogilvie , on 26 August 1774. Emily and Ogilvie had begun an affair some years earlier in Frescati House . Despite her remarriage, she continued to be known as The Dowager Duchess of Leinster . Ogilvie
975-499: The provisions of her father's will, her parents having died when she was six years old. She caught the eye of the young Prince of Wales, later George III , who, after ascending the throne, hinted that he was considering her as a wife but never proposed. In 1762, she married Charles Bunbury. They had no issue. Lady Sarah embarked on an adulterous affair with Lord William Gordon and bore him a daughter, called Louisa Bunbury, in 1768. Bunbury divorced her in 1776. In 1781, Lady Sarah contracted
1014-483: The provisions of her father's will. In 1758, she married Thomas Conolly , of Castletown , County Kildare , becoming Louise Conolly. The couple had no children. Louisa was involved in charitable works in Castletown, including the building of an industrial school and several other buildings. She managed her husband's estate after his death. Sarah Lennox was raised in Ireland by her sister Emily, in accordance with
1053-1090: The queen Cassiopeia in Clash of the Titans (1981). Another popular role was that of the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam in David Lynch 's Dune (1984) and Charal from Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985). She also appeared in seasons 2 and 4 (1998 and 2000) of the Canadian TV series La Femme Nikita as Adrian, the renegade founder of the powerful Section One anti-terrorist organisation. In 2001, she appeared as herself in Lily Savage's Blankety Blank . and in Ballykissangel as faith healer Consuela Dunphy in Episode 7 ('One Born Every Minute' or 'Getting Better All
1092-534: The radio. Phillips attended Pontardawe Grammar School and originally was known there as Jane, but her Welsh teacher called her Siân, the Welsh form of Jane. Later she took up English and philosophy at University College Cardiff . Phillips graduated from the University of Wales in 1955. She entered RADA with a scholarship in September 1955, the same year as Diana Rigg and Glenda Jackson . She won
1131-461: The second Duke by ten years), all these generous testamentary provisions, along with the huge building costs incurred by the first Duke, crippled the Leinsters for generations. Fourteen of her children predeceased her, ten of whom died in childhood or adolescence. All these bereavements caused much pain to Emily, who always remained until the end at the bedside of her children, except to faint from
1170-602: The suffering of seeing them die in her arms. One of her sons, Lord Edward FitzGerald , was a major figure in the republican movement, and was killed during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 . She died on 27 March 1814 in Grosvenor Square , London. In 1999, Irish Screen, BBC America and WGBH produced Aristocrats , a six-part limited television series based on the lives of Emily Lennox and her sisters. Geraldine Somerville and Siân Phillips portray Emily as
1209-645: The usual annuity of £400 annually for each of the minor children who lived with her, even after her remarriage to Ogilvie. Thus, Emily and William Ogilvie were probably financially better off than her son, the second Duke, who existed on less than £7,000 annually, out of which he had to run two large houses, play a role in Irish politics, and also provide lavish dowries of £10,000 each for three sisters who married. He also had to pay huge annuities (£2,000 each) to his two younger brothers Lord Lecale and Lord Henry Fitzgerald , and to pay his youngest brothers £10,000 each at their majority. Since Emily lived to 1814 (outliving
Emily FitzGerald, Duchess of Leinster - Misplaced Pages Continue
1248-658: Was Donald Roy, a post-graduate student at the University of Wales, who later established the Drama Department at the University of Hull and after whom the University Theatre is named. They were married in 1956 and divorced in 1959. Already pregnant with their first child, Phillips married Peter O'Toole in December 1959. They had two daughters: Kate, born 1960, and Patricia, born 1963. Patricia
1287-456: Was born on 6 October 1731 and died on 27 March 1814. On 7 February 1747 she married James Fitzgerald , 20th Earl of Kildare and 1st Duke of Leinster, becoming Emily Fitzgerald, Duchess of Leinster. The couple had at least nineteen children, eleven of whom survived to adulthood. Fourteen of her children predeceased her. Lord George Simon FitzGerald (16 April 1773 – May 1783) was recognised as the son of Lord Kildare and Emily Mary Lennox, but in fact
1326-613: Was eventually reconciled with her parents, she was snubbed in her father's will by not being given the guardianship of her three youngest sisters. In 1762, she was raised to the peerage as Baroness Holland of Holland in the County of Lincolnshire . Her husband became Baron Holland of Foxley in the County of Wiltshire the next year. Her three surviving sons (one other died young) were dissipated, caused her great grief over their gambling, and this may have contributed to her death. She died on 24 July 1774, soon after Henry Fox. Emilia Mary Lennox
1365-456: Was nine years her junior, and was the natural father of her youngest son from her first marriage. They lived for part of their marriage at Ardglass Castle in Ardglass , County Down , where Ogilvie worked to develop the village. A further three children were born to them after their marriage, two of whom lived to adulthood: Emily was treated generously in her first husband's will. He left her
1404-608: Was nominated for a Tony Award and Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Marlene Dietrich in Marlene . Phillips was born on 14 May 1933 in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen , the daughter of Sally ( née Thomas), a teacher, and David Phillips, a steelworker who became a policeman. She is a Welsh-speaker : in the first volume of her autobiography Private Faces (1999) she notes that she spoke only Welsh for much of her childhood, learning English by listening to
1443-584: Was performing as Margaret Muir in John Hall's The Holiday at Oxford New Theatre. In May 1958, Phillips performed as Joan in a production of Shaw's Saint Joan by Bryan Bailey, at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, which had opened just six weeks before. An observer described her performance: "Sian Phillips' portrayal of Joan defies the law of averages, since, after seeing Siobhan McKenna in
1482-721: Was the Welsh evangelist Rosina Davies . She is a patron of the Bird College of Dance, Music & Theatre Performance , based in Sidcup, Greater London. Her two volumes of autobiography – Private Faces and Public Places – were published in 1999 and 2001, respectively. Since 2005, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Cymru (BAFTA in Wales) has presented the Tlws Sian Phillips Award to
1521-607: Was the biological child of the Fitzgerald children's tutor, William Ogilvie . In 1774, a year after her husband died in 1773, Emily outraged society in Ireland by marrying Ogilvie in France. With Ogilvie she had four more children. The couple returned from France in 1779. Louise Augusta Lennox was born on 5 December 1743. On the deaths of her father, in 1750, and mother in 1751, when she was eight years old, she went to Ireland to live with her elder sister, Emily, in accordance with
#124875