Actors Ellen Terry, Henry Irving, and Victorian Shakespeare
Henry Irving and Ellen Terry were beloved for their Shakespeare performances, whether at London’s Lyceum Theater or on tour. New additions to the Folger collection show the acclaimed artists at work and play in Victorian England.
Wonder Man: Marvel’s Love Letter to Shakespeare
Shakespeare as the creator of heroes is explored in Wonder Man, the newest entry in the vast Marvel Cinematic Universe. Austin Tichenor explores the series’ interest in the power of theater and storytelling over super-powered beings fighting evil.
A Man of Firsts: Black Shakespearean Actor Ira Aldridge
19th-century American Actor Ira Aldridge is remembered as a pioneering performer who refused to let racism prevent him from pursuing his passion for performing Shakespeare, first in New York and then abroad. Explore his story.
Sarah Siddons: "Tragedy Personified"
Actress Sarah Siddons was 18th-century London’s best-known tragedienne, most famous for her portrayal of Lady Macbeth. An assortment of objects from our collection show her rise as an early star of modern celebrity culture.
Anthony Hopkins' first brush with Shakespeare
In an excerpt from We Did OK, Kid, Hopkins talks about the fateful Saturday night as a boy when he saw Olivier’s 1948 adaptation of Hamlet and the film sparked a passion for acting that would lead him on a path that no one could have predicted.
Becoming Shakespeare’s Richard III
In an excerpt from Siobhan Keenan’s new biography of actor Richard Burbage, we look at his rise to fame as Shakespeare’s Richard III.