Mrs. Siddons as Lady Macbeth and Sir John Philip Kemble as Hamlet

Sarah Kemble Siddons was born in 1755 into an acting dynasty. She was among the most famous British actors of her age, performing at London’s Drury Lane, Covent Garden, and other venues. Like her brother, John Philip Kemble, Siddons included important Shakespearean characters among her repertoires. She was best known for her portrayal of Lady Macbeth, and portraits of her in that role were created in paintings, prints, and ceramics. Her acting career was long, and it is said that her funeral, in 1831, drew a crowd of more than 5,000 mourners.