Stunning Facts About Lillie Langtry, The Professional Beauty

Stunning Facts About Lillie Langtry, The Professional Beauty

History's Most Scandalous Socialite

Lillie Langtry made a living off her beauty. Her stunning looks opened doors to the exclusive London society, but she wasn’t about to stop there. She lit up the stage in both the UK and America. Of course, there were also the men—most of them younger, all of them rich. 

The real question on everyone’s lips was about her authenticity: Was she a naive beauty or did Lillie Langtry know exactly what she was doing?

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1. She Was  A Tomboy 

Emilie Charlotte Le Breton was born on October 13, 1853, in the Old Rectory on the island of Jersey. The family had six sons—and Lillie, as they called her, was the only girl. She didn’t have much choice but to go outside and play sports with her brothers. But this soon presented a problem. 

Portrait of Lillie LangtryKean Collection, Getty Images

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2. She Was Wild

Because she was the only girl in the family, Lillie’s parents got her a French governess. However, the young girl wasn't very easy to wrangle. The governess couldn't control Lillie, so she just went along with her brothers to their lessons. As it turned out, there was no good male role model for any of the Le Breton children. 

Portrait of Lillie langtryUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

3. Her Father Was Bad

Lillie’s father, even though he was an esteemed Reverend, had a downright unholy reputation. He was a scandalous womanizer and heartlessly had various children with other women, including women from the very church where he was the reverend. Still, Lillie's mother stayed with him for quite a while—but by the time 1880 rolled around, she had had enough. 

Lillie Langtry, head and shoulders portrait, facing leftNapoleon Sarony, Wikimedia Commons

4. She Found A Man 

Lillie's mother did not want to be the wife of her cheating husband anymore. When she finally put her foot down and severed their relationship for good, her no-good ex-husband fled Jersey. By this time, Lillie had already found her own husband. This was Edward Langtry who was six years older and—more shockingly—already a widower. They'd married six years earlier in 1874.

If Lillie had been looking for a way out, then she’d certainly found one in Edward Langtry. 

Lillie Langtry posing as CleopatraLibrary of Congress, Getty Images

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5. She Wanted More

As luck would have it, Lillie’s new husband was an expert yachtsman and Lillie decided to take up the hobby as well. She’d seen as much of Jersey as she’d wanted and insisted that her husband offer her something more exciting. Once she’d gotten yachting out of her system, she set her sights on a dream life. 

She convinced her husband to make the ultimate move. 

Red Gauntlet yacht 1882Unknow Artist, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

6. She Entered Society

Lillie and her husband rented an apartment in London, and Lillie was ready to mingle with the rich and famous. Her brother Clement had married into a good family and through them, Lillie slowly made her way into London society. At the theater one day, she caught the eye of Frank Miles. 

Miles was a painter and had an eye for beauty and he soon had a mission: He had to find out who this startling beauty was. 

Portrait of George Francis MilesWilliam Robinson, Wikimedia Commons

7. He Searched For Her

Miles searched London for anyone who could tell him who the beautiful woman he’d seen at the theater was. Finally, after giving descriptions to everyone he knew, Miles got his chance to meet Lillie. His immediate request was to paint a portrait of her. Posing for Miles was an important step, but fate still had some challenges in store for her. 

Could this girl from Jersey survive an elegant London party? 

Portrait of Lillie Langtry (1884)George Frank Miles, Wikimedia Commons

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8. She Was In Mourning 

Through her brother’s wife’s family, Lillie snagged an invite to a fancy party in Knightsbridge. Sadly, Lillie was not really in a party mood. You see, her youngest brother had recently passed after a riding accident. Because of her grief, Lillie didn't wear any jewelry and chose to don a simple black dress. 

Little did she know what kind of effect her pared-down appearance would have. 

Actress Lily LangtryBettmann, Getty Images

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9. She Stood Out From The Crowd

Most women at this Knightsbridge party wore over-the-top gowns intended to draw attention. This was why Lillie’s black dress actually stood out even more. During the party, Lillie’s new friend Miles made a few sketches of her. He turned them into postcards that made Lillie’s popularity soar. 

Everything seemed to be coming up roses for her—but then she hit a wall. 

Actress and socialite Lillie LangtryWilliam Downey, Wikimedia Commons

10. The Money Dried Up

While Lillie Langtry was climbing her way to the top of London society, her husband was going in the other direction. When they’d married, Edward Langtry had property that brought in a princely sum. Now, for some unknown reason, that property had all but lost its value. Compared to her London acquaintances, Lillie was dirt poor. 

As it turned out, even poverty looked good on Lillie. 

Actress Lily LangtryBettmann, Getty Images

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11. She Glowed

In her youth, Daisy Greville, the Countess of Warwick, met Lillie at Frank Miles’ studio. She described how she met a poor woman wearing a simple black dress. Greville didn’t really care about how much money Lillie had, she was in awe of her beauty. But it wasn’t just her looks—it was a glow she had and a freshness. 

Soon, all of London was agreeing with Greville and dying to get a look at Lillie Langtry.

Daisy Greville, Countess of WarwickThe Lafayette Studio, Wikimedia Commons

12. She Was On Display

During this time, folks in London were all about beauty and even called extremely beautiful women PBs or “professional beauties”. Beauty was an obsession and Lillie’s looks became one of the focal points. Women climbed up on chairs and park benches just to gaze at her stunning qualities. But it wasn’t only women who wanted to get an eyeful. 

English Actress Lillie LangtryHulton Deutsch, Getty Images

13. She Made Him Jealous 

Of course, Lillie’s beauty also attracted men. One of her biggest fans was Lord Lonsdale and one day while riding together, the Lord lost it. Lillie had chosen to speak briefly to another man. Lord Lonsdale got off his horse to give a beating to the man who dared to speak with Lillie. She was becoming legendary—and it was time for a very important man to take notice. 

Hugh Cecil Lowther, 5th Earl of LonsdaleJohn Lavery, Wikimedia Commons

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14. She Sat Next To Royalty

In 1877, Lillie Langtry and her husband got an invite to a spring dinner party. To her surprise, also in attendance was Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales. As luck would have it, Lillie found that her seat at the table was right next to Edward’s. In fact, “luck” had nothing to do with it. Edward had secretly arranged to sit near the most beautiful woman in London. 

No good could come of this. 

Portrait of King Edward VII (1841–1910)W. & D. Downey, Wikimedia Commons

15. They Caused A Stir

Lillie and Prince Edward became friends and caused a stir whenever they went out together. It soon became clear that the two were more than friends. The problem was that they were both married to other people. Though Prince Edward's wife didn’t seem to care and even invited Lillie over for parties. 

Lillie's husband Edward, however, was in for some rude awakenings.

Edward VII at Point View, NiagaraUnknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

16. She Was Not For Sale 

Edward was having a heck of a time keeping up with his wife’s popularity. It got so bad that Crown Prince Rudolf kept showing up at their house thinking it was some sort of high-class bordello. But though Rudolf might not have managed to get his foot in the door, there were definitely other male conquests that Lillie did not reject. 

Rudolf Crown Prince of AustriaKároly Koller, Wikimedia Commons

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17. She Met A Younger Man 

While married to her husband and cavorting with the Prince, Lillie also found the time to have a relationship with a rich, younger man called the Earl Of Shrewsbury. This was more than just a fling, and she and the Earl actually planned to run off together. To her shock, however, the 19-year-old Earl double-crossed her. 

Portrait of Lillie LangtryHulton Archive, Getty Images

18. He Betrayed Her

Lillie was willing to give up her husband for the Earl of Shrewsbury, and he seemed on board as well. Then, in a tragic betrayal, the Earl eloped with another woman. This was with Ellen Palmer-Morewood who was also older and married. It looks like the Earl had a type. Lillie lost the Earl and had to settle for her husband. 

Well, of course, she wouldn’t. 

Photo of  Lillie LangtryWisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research, Wikimedia Commons

19. She Was In A Bind 

In June 1880, one of Lillie’s indiscretions caught up with her: She was pregnant. No one imagined that her husband was the father, as they no longer lived in the same house or spent much time together. Following some detective work, the father’s name came out. It was Prince Louis of Battenburg. 

Carrying another man’s child was about to land Lillie in some serious trouble. 

Portrait of Prince Louis of Battenberg (1854-1921)Philip de Laszlo, Wikimedia Commons

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20. She Tried To Hide It

Obviously, Lillie didn’t want her husband to know that she was pregnant. She thought that since they were rarely together, maybe she could hide it from him. This didn’t mean she walked around carrying loads of laundry over her belly. She decided just to refuse to see him and offer no explanation. 

But it wasn’t only Lillie that wanted to keep her husband in the dark.

Lillie Langtry Reclining in ChairBettmann, Getty Images

21. She Had Help

The Prince of Wales helped keep Lillie’s pregnancy a secret—for a selfish reason. If her husband found out that his wife was pregnant, he’d likely sue for divorce. This would mean that the Prince would likely have to show face in court, and the whole thing would be a bad publicity moment for the royal family. But that wasn't even the wildest part.

Something came out later that made Lillie look like a liar. 

Portrait of Lillie LangtryLafayette, Getty Images

22. She Told A Fib

The man who Lillie named as the father of her baby quickly jumped on the HMS Inconstant for a two-year voyage. However, he may not have been the father. Lillie had another man back in Jersey. This was Arthur Jones, who had been a friend to her brothers. Based on letters that Lillie sent to Arthur, it became clear that he was the most likely father. But the content of these letters was scandalous. 

Ship H.M.S. Inconstant Griffin and Co, Wikimedia Commons

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23. She Wanted To End It 

From the letters Lillie wrote to Arthur, it was clear that Lillie did not want this baby. She asked him to pop down to the local pharmacy and get some medicine that would cause her to miscarry. The plan did not go ahead, but Arthur likely joined Lillie in Paris for the delivery of their daughter Jeanne Marie. 

Now, she just had to explain why she suddenly had a daughter. 

Lillie Langtry (1853–1929) As Mademoiselle MarsLafayette, Wikimedia Commons

24. She Had To Hide Her

Because of her husband, Lillie couldn't be a proper mother to her illegitimate child. To hide her baby from her husband, and London Society, she made a heartbreaking decision. She took baby Jeanne Marie to Jersey where her grandmother could raise her. The young girl would grow up not knowing the identity of her real mother. In her mind, Lillie was her aunt.

With her baby safely hidden, Lillie returned to London, where she now faced serious financial problems. 

Lillie Langtry by Napoleon Sarony, 1882trialsanderrors, Flickr

25. She Needed Money

Lillie was short on cash and desperately needed work. In 1882, Pears' soap couldn’t resist her radiant complexion, so they offered her a fee so they could put her likeness on their product package. While this may seem like a typical case of product endorsement, it was actually the first time this ever happened.   

The year before, however, she'd already dipped her toes into something shockingly new.

Caricature from Punch magazine of Lily Langtry.Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

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26. She Got On Stage 

Lillie Langtry liked the idea of earning her own money so when a friend—writer Oscar Wilde—suggested giving theater a try, she jumped on it. This suggestion was out of left field, as society ladies didn’t do things like perform in theaters. Well, Lillie was desperate for cash so she stepped up. 

The results were mystifying. 

Portrait of Oscar WildeNapoleon Sarony, Wikipedia

27. She Filled The House

Lillie's first attempt was an amateur play with two female actors where Lillie had the added benefit of free acting lessons from her experienced co-star Henrietta Labouchère. Her first professional performance was in She Stoops to Conquer in London’s West End. No one thought that Lillie was an amazing actor, but, strangely enough, she played to full houses every night. 

Lillie Langtry posing for a photoFotoGuy 49057, Flickr

28. He Helped Her Shine

There were two reasons why Lillie Langtry’s mediocre acting was a success. First, people were still amazed at her beauty, and some came just to catch a glimpse of her. The other reason came out of the kindness of the Prince of Wales. He knew his presence in the audience would draw a crowd, so he did his duty and took a seat. 

Lillie was a stage success, and she was just getting started. 

Lillie Langtry (1853–1929) In The CrosswaysEllis & Walery, Wikimedia Commons

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29. She Went Abroad 

In 1882, Lillie was already ready to go it alone. She started her own theater company which toured a number of plays around the UK. Then she met American producer Henry Abbey who had the idea for a US tour. With her acting teacher—Labouchère—in tow, she headed for New York City. The American public was anxious to get a look at Lillie.

In a new country, far away from her husband, there was certainly trouble ahead. 

British politician Henry Labouchère (1831–1912)Bain News Service, Wikimedia Commons

30. She Had To Cancel

Lillie and Labouchère arrived in New York City in October 1882. As her first performance came nearer and nearer, the excitement around her intensified—and then tragedy struck. The night before Lillie's US premiere, there was a fire. This inferno managed to completely destroy the theater where she was set to perform. She did eventually find another theater, but the drama was just getting started.

A Jersey Lily, portrait of Lillie LangtryJohn Everett Millais, Wikimedia Commons

31. She Had A Type

After one of her first performances in New York, Lillie Langtry met Frederick Gebhard, who ticked two of her boxes: He was young and rich. The fact that he liked yachting and racing horses was just an added bonus. Gebhard was only 22 when he met Lillie, but the pair fell passionately in love. 

Of course, not everyone was happy with this arrangement. 

Drawing of Frederick Gebhard in 1894Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

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32. They Broke Up

Remember, Lillie had brought her acting couch, Labouchère with her, and Labouchère didn’t appreciate this new relationship. The two split and Lillie took Gebhard with her on a coast-to-coast tour of the US. She was still getting bad reviews for her acting, but because of the curiosity surrounding her, this tour still netted a handsome profit. 

But Lillie didn’t really need acting anymore, so she followed a new passion. 

Lillie Langtry With LyreThe National Archives UK, Wikimedia Commons

33. They Wanted To Bring Them Home 

While Lillie was seeing Gebhard, he got her interested in horse racing. Their interest peaked in 1885 when they bought a complete stable of horses in America and planned to bring them to England to race there. The first stop on the horses’ trip was in Chicago. Before they got there, however, tragedy struck. 

 Two Horses and Chickens in a StableWouterus Verschuur, Picryl

34. They Derailed 

Lillie and Gebhard were traveling by train with their horses. On August 13, 1888, the train derailed and rolled down an embankment. Lucky for Lillie, she and Gebhard were in a private carriage. The horses were not so lucky: 15 of the 17 horses lost their lives in the wreck and so did one person. 

The next year, Lillie was through with Gebhard and looking for someone new. 

Lillie Langtry (1853–1929) in Jersey peasant costumeLafayette, Wikimedia Commons

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35. She Got Some Good Advice

In 1889, Langtry placed a bet on a horse after receiving some advice from a fellow attendee. She took the advice and won, but there was more luck in store for her. The same man who gave her the advice also made her a stunning offer. He gave her a horse. This new acquaintance had certainly caught Lillie’s attention. This was certainly a lovely meet cute—but sadly, it would only lead to heartbreak.

Lillie Langtry (1853–1929) As Mademoiselle Oliva In A Royal NecklaceLafayette, Wikimedia Commons

36. He Was Like The Others

This new man in Lillie's life was none other than George Alexander Baird, who some described as “an eccentric young bachelor”. As with many of the men that caught her interest, he was young, had oodles of money, and a love of outdoor activities. Lillie was eight years older than Baird, and the two started a romance. However, this relationship also had a dark side.

Lewis Waller (1860–1915) As Napoleon And Lillie Langtry (1853–1929) As Mademoiselle Mars In Mademoiselle MarsEllis & Walery, Wikimedia Commons

37. She Lost Another

Reportedly, Baird had a reputation for being jealous—a feeling likely enhanced by Lillie's scandalous romantic history—and could be quite aggressive at times. Besides horses, Baird had an interest in boxing, which was actually against the law at the time, and it was this interest that became the backdrop of his final days.

Mrs. Langtry, from the Actresses series (N245) issued by Kinney Brothers to promote Sweet Caporal CigarettesKinney Brothers Tobacco Company, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

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38. Her Lover Fell Ill

Baird traveled to New Orleans in 1893 setting up fights between his roster of fighters. When his best fighter lost, Baird started drinking—but the night took a horrifying turn when he fell ill. Tragically, Baird had pneumonia. Even worse? He never recovered, passing on March 18, 1893. He and Lillie had never married—and so the contents of his will may have come as no surprise.

Lillie Langtry PortraitDowney, W. & D., CC0, Wikimedia Commons

39. She Missed Out

Though Lillie and Baird had been involved for years, her name did not appear on his will. Nope, Baird left everything to his mom. Still, Lillie's career in horse racing continued on and she was quite successful at it. At one point she even brought over a horse all the way from Australia. Merman was a winner of the Lewes Handicap, the Jockey Club Cup, and even the Ascot Gold Cup. There’s no doubt that this really did happen. 

But other things in Lillie Langtry’s life may have been a lie. 

The Ascot Gold Cup 1834 James PollardJames Pollard, Wikimedia Commons

40. She Liked To Brag

One romance that Lillie liked to brag about was with the Prime Minister of England. This was the rather upstanding William Ewart Gladstone. Lillie claimed that Gladstone approached her, but according to one revealing letter, she convinced a friend to play as a go-between so they could meet. Clearly, someone was lying. 

Portrait of William GladstoneJohn Everett Millais, Wikimedia Commons

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41. She Was A Danger

Lillie had all kinds of anecdotes about all the time she spent alone with Gladstone. The Prime Minister, on the other hand, said that he had met her on only a few occasions. But still, the rumors persisted. The Prime Minister's secretary, Hamilton, wanted to nip the rumors in the bud and had some very unkind words to say about Lillie.

Portrait of Lillie (Lillie Langtry) Childe Hassam, Wikimedia Commons

42. He Called Her Names

Hoping that the Prime Minister would stay far away from Lillie, Hamilton wrote in his diary that no one was receiving her in their homes, and even compared her reputation to a “bad odour”.  As it turned out, Gladstone had no intention of having any kind of relationship with Lillie. 

With her reputation at an all-time low, Lillie did a disappearing act. 

Lillie Langtry, The Jersey LilyJosé María Mora, Wikimedia Commons

43. She Made A Break

Back in 1888, Lillie Langtry and her companion Frederick Gebhard had purchased ranches (that’s plural) in Lake County, California. In 1897, she used this purchase to obtain US citizenship. Now that she was an American she took the opportunity to finally divorce the man she’d been married to, on paper anyway, for the last 23 years. 

Her divorce from Edward Langtry was far from simple.

Portrait of Lillie LangtryNapoleon Sarony, Wikimedia Commons

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44. She Lost Him

When Lillie filed for divorce, Edward wrote a letter in the New York Journal to illustrate his side of the story. But then something dreadful happened. Edward wound up in Chester Asylum for the most shocking reason: Authorities had discovered him in an utterly crazed state at a railway station. It was here that he met a sad end, likely passing from the brain haemorrhage he'd sustained during an earlier fall.

Lillie's reaction, however, was unbelievable.

Portrait of Lillie Langtry Benjamin Joseph Falk, Wikimedia Commons

45. She Didn't Care

Lillie and her husband had lived separate lives for a long time, and it would seem that his passing barely phased her. Taking the loss in stride, a letter of correspondence revealed that she thought her husband's demise "was no great loss”. Lillie had been a far from faithful wife—but now she was finally single and free.

Actress Lillie Langtry, 1853-1929Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons

46. She Was Free

As a widow, Lillie behaved almost the same as when she had a husband. She found a younger man, with a huge inheritance and started a relationship. This was Hugo Gerald de Bathe. The only difference now was that Langtry was free to walk down the aisle with the man of her choice. 

She didn’t waste any time. 

Lillie Langtry And Sarah Bernhardt Oscar Wilde, Wikimedia Commons

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47. She Walked Down The Aisle 

So the 46-year-old Lillie was ready to walk down the aisle with her 28-year-old groom. There wasn’t much time for an opulent wedding, it was just the bride and groom, the officials, and Lillie’s daughter who was by this time already 18 years old. All Lillie had to do now was wait for her new husband to come into his money. 

Lillie Langtry, British actressBenjamin Joseph Falk, Wikimedia Commons

48. She Got A Title

In 1907, Lillie's father-in-law passed and her husband became the 5th Baronet. The couple inherited mansions in Sussex, Devon, and Ireland. One of them had 17 bedrooms and over 70 acres of land. Lillie also got her own title. She was now Lady de Bathe. It looked like she had finally found what she wanted: true love and money. 

But it wasn’t “happily ever after” just yet. 

Lillie Langtry (Mrs Gerald de Bathe)Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons

49. She Carried On The Same Way

Lillie's marriage to de Bath wasn’t that much different from her first marriage. They saw each other infrequently as Lillie lived in Monaco and de Bath in Southwest France. Lillie had a close female friend live with her, who took care of her every need as she grew older. Well, she was about to need some very serious help. 

Lillie Langtry As Cleopatra 1891W. & D. Downey, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

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50. She Made The Front Page

It was on February 12, 1929, that Lillie succumbed to pneumonia. Her friend Mathilde Marie Peat was by her side. The New York Times gave Lillie the front cover and called her the “World’s Greatest Beauty”. She bequeathed most of her assets to Peat, but she wasn’t about to leave this world without a little mystery. 

 Lillie Langtry in costume 1888Benjamin Joseph Falk, Wikimedia Commons

51. She Left A Mystery

Lillie Langtry did leave most of her assets to her longtime companion Mathilde Marie Peat, but she did put some aside for someone else. She left a fair chunk of change to a young man, Charles Louis D’Albani, who she reportedly thought very highly of. I guess old habits die hard. 

Lillie had had quite the life, and her legacy lives on to this day in one of Hollywood’s most iconic images. 

Photo of Lillie Langtry, 1853-1929 Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons

52. She Started A Tradition 

Lillie was the first celebrity to endorse a product, but there is another contribution she made to Hollywood. When she worked in theaters in America, she asked them to install a carpet from her dressing room to the stage, so the dirty floor wouldn’t soil her gown. By chance, the theater manager chose a red carpet, and a Hollywood tradition was born. 

You May Also Like:

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Lillie Langtry posing for a photo in a dressNapoleon Sarony, Wikimedia Commons

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 


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