49 Inspiring Vintage Photos of Extraordinary Women

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The Merry Widow, Lily Elsie (1907)

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Elsie Cotton, professionally known as Lily Elsie, was one of the most photographed women during the Edwardian era. With her beauty and charm on film and on stage, it’s not difficult to imagine why. The English actress and singer was born to a theater worker and dressmaker. Despite being painfully shy, Elsie had appeared in many concerts and pantomimes in theaters even before she turned ten. She was cast in many plays, from Little Red Riding Hood to Blue Beard, and she also toured in Edwardian musical comedies, such as The Silver Slipper and The Three Little Maids. Elsie rose to stardom when she landed the title role in the English version of the operetta, The Merry Widow. The show became an enormous success since opening night, and Elsie was praised for her charm, grace, and exquisite dancing, with critics stating they could not imagine the lead role in better hands.