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Kate Bateman, 1842-1917
Just four years old when she made her acting debut, Kate Bateman enjoyed great success as a child prodigy until she outgrew such roles at the age of fourteen and briefly retired from the stage. She reemerged in 1860 in the title role of Evangeline, a dramatization of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's celebrated poem, and soon confirmed her status as a bona fide adult star with her portrayal of Julia in the 1862 production of The Hunchback. Her most famous role, however, was that of Leah in Leah, the Forsaken-a melodrama adapted specifically for her by playwright Augustin Daly. When Leah opened in New York in 1863, Bateman's stirring performance as the Jewish maiden abandoned by her Christian lover received a wildly enthusiastic reception from the public. Although Bateman would play many parts during her long career, Leah remained her greatest triumph.
Mathew Brady Studio, print from 1863 wet collodion negative |