- Date of Birth: 11 August, 1888
- Place of Birth: Berkshire England
Biography
Owen Ramsay Nares had a long stage and film career and, for most of the 1920s, was Britain's favourite matinée idol and silent film star. Besides his acting career, he was the author of Myself, and Some Others, a book published in 1925.
Educated at Reading School, Nares was encouraged by his mother to become an actor, and in 1908 he received his training from actress, Rosina Filippi. The following year, he was playing bit parts in West End productions, including the St. James’s Theatre and the Pinero’s Mid Channel. Over the next few years, as his reputation grew, he performed with many of the outstanding actors of the era including Beerbohm Tree, Constance Collier and Marion Terry.
In 1914, Nares appeared in Dandy Donovan, the first of the twenty-five silent films he was to make, and the early 1920s was his golden period. He was the male lead, playing opposite such luminaries as Gladys Cooper, Fay Compton, Madge Titheradge and Ruby Miller. His stage career also continued to flourish. In 1915, he played Thomas Armstrong in Edward Sheldon's Romance at the Lyric Theatre, and in 1917, he starred with Lily Elsie at the Palace Theatre in the musical comedy Pamela. Nares continued to star in popular West End shows, almost without pause, until 1926, when he then took a break and set off with his own company for a tour of South Africa.
Nares married actress, Marie Pollini in the spring of 1910, and had two sons, David and Geoffrey Nares.
Educated at Reading School, Nares was encouraged by his mother to become an actor, and in 1908 he received his training from actress, Rosina Filippi. The following year, he was playing bit parts in West End productions, including the St. James’s Theatre and the Pinero’s Mid Channel. Over the next few years, as his reputation grew, he performed with many of the outstanding actors of the era including Beerbohm Tree, Constance Collier and Marion Terry.
In 1914, Nares appeared in Dandy Donovan, the first of the twenty-five silent films he was to make, and the early 1920s was his golden period. He was the male lead, playing opposite such luminaries as Gladys Cooper, Fay Compton, Madge Titheradge and Ruby Miller. His stage career also continued to flourish. In 1915, he played Thomas Armstrong in Edward Sheldon's Romance at the Lyric Theatre, and in 1917, he starred with Lily Elsie at the Palace Theatre in the musical comedy Pamela. Nares continued to star in popular West End shows, almost without pause, until 1926, when he then took a break and set off with his own company for a tour of South Africa.
Nares married actress, Marie Pollini in the spring of 1910, and had two sons, David and Geoffrey Nares.