Florence Eliza Collingbourne (January 1880 – 8 July 1946) was a British actress, singer and stage beauty known for her appearances in Edwardian musical comedies.[1][2] One of George Edwardes' Gaiety Girls,[3] she took over the title role in San Toy[4] and originated the role of Nancy Staunton in The Toreador.[5]
Collingbourne was born in Camberwell in London in 1880,[6] the daughter of Maria Eleanor née Witham (1858–1888) and Henry Ashdown Collingbourne (1859-), a printer's labourer.[7][8] Her mother died when she was 8 years old, following which she was raised by her aunt and uncle.[9] She was living alone in Camberwell in 1901.[10]
Her stage appearances include a series of Edwardian musical comedies produced by George Edwardes, such as A Greek Slave at Daly's Theatre (1898)[11] and Gladys Stourton in A Gaiety Girl at the Gaiety Theatre (1899).[3] She originated the small role of Yung Shi (and later took over the title role) in San Toy at Daly's (1899–1900),[4] Girl in The Wicked Uncle at the Gaiety (1900)[12] and Nancy Staunton in The Toreador at the Gaiety (1901–1902).[13][5]
She left the production to marry Laurence Margetson (1874–1928), a hosiery manufacturer,[14] with whom she had three children: William Laurence Margetson (1902–1992); Colleen Mary Margetson (1908–1995), and the novelist and writer Stella Margetson (1912–1992).[15][16] After her marriage she retired from acting.[9] In 1906 she briefly came out of retirement to appear in a farewell benefit for Emily Soldene at the Palace Theatre, London with Seymour Hicks and Rutland Barrington among others where she sang 'L'Ete' by Madame Chaminade.[17] In her later years she lived at The Holdynge, Aldwick Avenue in Bognor Regis in Sussex.[18]
Collingbourne died aged 66 at the District Hospital in Dorking in Surrey in 1946. In her will she left £27,306 7s 9d to her children.[18]