Othello: Lily Brayton (1876-1953) as Desdemona, a role she played in 1907 and 1909.

The ingenue was a role familiar to formal Edwardian society. Brayton played Desdemona opposite her husband Oscar Asche (another celebrated Shakespearean actor: see previous image). While Brayton excelled in Shakespeare roles her greatest hit was as the heroine of Chu Chin Chow (1916-21) a musical produced by her husband Oscar Asche based on Ali Baba tales, much appreciated by troops returning from the fronts of WW1 for its scantily-clad chorus line.