Kathleen Mary Fitzwilliam (1826–1894) was an English actress and singer appearing regularly on the London stage in the mid 19th century.

Early life

Kathleen Fitzwilliam was born in Covent Garden, England, the daughter of the noted actors Edward Fitzwilliam and Fanny Fitzwilliam. Her parents were both of Irish descent. She attended the Convent in Hammersmith as a boarder.

Musical Education

She studied under John Barnett (singing), John Liptrot Hatton (piano) and Balzir Chatterton (harp). Her first appearance in public was on 15 March 1845 at the Hanover Square Rooms as a singer on the occasion of the first performance of an original 'Stabat Mater' composed by her brother Edward Francis Fitzwilliam. In the same year she made her stage debut at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham as Rosina in The Barber of Seville.

Career

Fitzwilliam's first appearance on the London stage was on 1 December 1847 at the Lyceum Theatre where she played the title role in Peggy Green which was written expressly for her by Charles Selby. She remained at the Lyceum for three seasons appearing in James Planché's extravaganzas. Miss Fitzwilliam appeared with many notable Victorian actors. She played Ophelia with William Macready in Hamlet and appeared as Maud in The Wife's Secret with Mr and Mrs Charles Kean. On the return of Miss Fanny Kemble from America, Miss Fitzwilliam played Helen in The Hunchback in Liverpool (1847) to Miss Kemble's Julia. In 1849 she performed for Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in the Christmas theatricals. In 1850 (January) Miss Fitzwilliam joined the company of the Theatre Royal Haymarket, under Mr. Benjamin Webster's management, and shortly afterwards transferred her services to the Adelphi Theatre, where she remained for three seasons.

Retirement

Miss Fitzwilliam made her last appearance on the stage in August 1852 in Bon Soir, Signor Pantalon at the Adelphi Theatre, and then adopted concert singing as a profession. From 1852 until early 1854 she sang with much success at most of the concerts and musical reunions in London and at several in the principal towns of the provinces. In May 1854 she married and left the profession.

Notable parts - London

Lyceum Theatre, London

Planché's Extravaganzas at the Lyceum

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Theatre Royal Haymarket

Adelphi Theatre

Windsor Castle Theatricals 1849

Notable parts - Provinces