Emélie Polini

Polini, Emélie Adeline (24 March 1881 – 31 July 1927) was an English stage actress with a considerable career in Australia.

Polini was born in Steyning, Sussex, a daughter of theatrical manager Giovanni Marie Polini and his wife Harriett Frances, née Billings. Her acting career began in London, followed by work in companies touring in England and America. While on Broadway playing in Yes or No, she was offered a contract with Australian firm J. C. Williamson. In Australia she played De Luxe Annie in Sydney and Melbourne, where she married Lieutenant Ellis, whom she had met on board the ship. She retired from the stage for a while, then returned, starring in Kindling, Eyes of Youth, My Lady's Dress and some revivals. She left the stage to start a family, but was forced to return, starring in The Lie and The Flaw, which she co-wrote with Doris Egerton Jones, and Eyes of Youth in 1923-1924. She sailed for London in April 1924 for London to visit her sister. She appeared on stage in England and America, where she died.

Personal life

Emélie married Harold Wilfred Ellis in Melbourne on 16 July 1918. They bought a farm at Hartley Vale, New South Wales, in his name, using her savings of £1100 as deposit. Emélie retired from the stage in 1921(?) and on 8 October 1921 gave birth to a daughter, Patricia Marie. Unbeknown to Emélie, her husband had mortgaged the property to fund his extravagant lifestyle; in March 1922 the bank called in the mortgage and she was left penniless, and returned to the stage. Emélie left Patricia with her mother-in-law, arranging to pay for a nurse. Emélie planned a trip to London to visit her sister Marie Nares and wished to take Patricia, but her husband and his mother refused permission; she sought legal custody which was denied by Justice Harvey.

Emélie Polini died in Boston, Massachusetts, of cancer. She left her estate, valued at over £8300, to her sister Marie, conditional on her being responsible for Patricia. The will was contested by Ellis, and was overturned, her sister being denied custody.

Sources

Heather Radi, 'Polini, Emélie Adeline (1881–1927)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/polini-emelie-adeline-8071/text14085, published in hardcopy 1988, accessed online 9 March 2014.

References

Category:English stage actresses Category:Australian stage actresses Category:1881 births Category:1927 deaths