Miss Maria Foote, from Actress to Countess

Maria Foote, Afterwards Countess of Harrington, as Maria Darlington in the Farce of "A Rowland for an Oliver", 1824 painting by Thomas Goff Lupton.

Engraving of the Countess of Harrington, previously Miss Maria Foote of the British stage.

Macready was not the only performer who drew Lyon’s attention. Our diarist also mentions a “Miss Foot”—which would have been Miss Maria Foote (179?-1867), fleeting darling of the British stage.

Foote was active from 1814—1831. She was best liked for being beautiful and a fine singer, and although her presence and looks were celebrated, her talent for acting was questionable. Especially in the earlier years of her career, Foote “owed her popularity to her beauty rather than to her ability, playing principally in second-rate parts” (Simpson 304). Even Lyon, her prime demographic, describes Foote’s performance as merely “interesting” (Lyon 14) when he sees her on stage.

She was reckless with her favors, winning the attentions of at least two upper-class gentlemen for many years, and even successfully suing one for breach of promise when he broke off their tentative engagement. In 1826, when Lyon saw her perform as Virginia, Foote was particularly contentious.

During a performance, “Miss Foote was very cruelly handled by some persons in the pit and gallery, who hissed and groaned and tried to obstruct her in every possible way. Her supporters, on the other hand, applauded vociferously, and between the two not a thing could be heard when the actress was upon the stage” (304-305). Foote ended her career as an actress upon her marriage in 1831 and transition from the actress daughter of an officer to the Countess of Harrington.

CONSIDER: Maria Foote was able to jump social classes because she married into the upper-class. Does this type of social climbing still happen today? Can you think of some examples?