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| Zena Dare |
Zena was born Florence Hariette Zena Dones on February 4th, 1887, daughter of Arthur Dones, a clerk in the divorce court. Zena and her younger sister Phyllis first appeared together under the stage name Dare in "Babes In The Wood" in 1899 (Phyllis playing the girl babe, Zena as understudy to the boy babe). However, Zena's mother insisted that she should continue her education for several more years in the intervals between further pantomime appearances.
In 1902, still aged only 15, Zena had a spell touring as 'Daisy Maitland' in Seymour Hicks's musical comedy "An English Daisy". Two years later she was engaged by Frank Curzon's management for a West End role as the juvenile lead of 'Aurora Brue' in "Sergeant Brue". However, she was released from this engagement when Hicks needed someone to take the part of 'Angela' in "The Catch of The Season", the part he originally designed for his wife Ellaline Terriss who had fallen pregnant. This part Zena successfully played until Mrs Hicks was able to return after having given birth. Zena's sister Phyllis later took over the role to complete the run of 621 performances.
There then followed a spell of work with George Edwardes, with Zena playing the title role in "Lady Madcap" in 1905 and appearing for him again playing 'Lady Elizabeth Congress' in "The Little Cherub".
In January 1906, having been released by her manager, Zena returned to Hicks to play 'Betty Siverthorne' in "The Beauty of Bath" at the Aldwych, again in succession to Ellaline Terriss. Then at Christmas she played 'Peter Pan' in Manchester.
In the following year, 1907, Zena played 'Victoria Siddons', the second lead, in "The Gay Gordons" at the Aldwych. This time she played alongside Ellaline Terriss and then, when the production went on tour, took over the lead role of 'Peggy Quainton'. She then appeared with Hicks in various one act shows and also toured, in 1910, as the 'Duc de Richelieu' in "The Dashing Little Duke", another former Terriss role.
In January 1911, she married The Hon. Maurice Brett, second son of the second Viscount Esher. Zena is quoted as saying that she had not thought much at the time about getting engaged as she felt she was much too young. However she had fallen in love with him and was soon married. Retirement followed; she had been on the stage since she was 12 and never wanted to go back to it again. There then followed a period of 15 years away from the stage in which time Zena had two daughters and a son.
During the First World War, Zena accompanied her husband to Paris on important work for the government. She then worked for three years at Mrs Vanderbilt's American Hospital in Neuilly, nursing wounded soldiers. This harrowing experience left a lasting impression on Zena.
However, in January 1926, at the age of 39 she made her comeback on the London Stage at Golders Green. This was as 'Mrs Cheyney' in Lonsdale's "The Last of Mrs Cheyney" without any big names supporting her and then toured with the production. This was some achievement as this was an exacting role for a late beginner to high comedy.
She also toured South Africa between 1928 and 1929 with her own company playing in "The High Road", "The Trail of Mary Dugan", "The Squeaker" and "Other Men's Wives". On her return she stood in for Marie Tempest in the title part of St. John Ervine's "The First Mrs Fraser" at the Haymarket and then toured with the play.
In 1930 she toured as the 'Femme de Chambre' in "Other Men's Wives" and as 'Clemency Warlock' in "Cynara". In December 1931 and 1932 she again appeared in "Peter Pan", this time as 'Mrs Darling'.
In 1933, Ivor Novello tried to tempt Zena out of semi-retirement. Apparently Zena was quoted at the time as saying she was happy at home with her husband and children and thought it ridiculous to go back to the theatre at her age. However, Novello's persistence paid off when, one or two days before rehearsals he telephoned her at her wonderful home of Chilston, near Ascot, and asked her to play the part of 'Lady Raynor' in "Proscenium". Unfortunately her beloved husband was to die the following year, in 1934.
The roles of Novello's mother in "Proscenium", the murderer's mother 'Mrs Sherry' in "Murder in Mayfair" (Drury Lane) and of the manageress of a beauty parlour, 'Phyllida Frame', in "Careless Rapture" were exactly suited to an actress of her age and with her talent for mild caricature. She was ideally suited to the Novello mix of frivolity and romantic sentiment. There then followed a part in Farrell and Perry's Irish comedy "Spring Meeting" in 1938.
Soon after the outbreak of the Second World War, Zena and her sister Phyllis reunited professionally for the first time since their childhood on a tour of one of Novello's lesser plays, "Full House" (Zena played 'Frynne Rodney' and Phyllis 'Lola Leadenhall').
During the war Zena had a part in Sir John Gielgud's revival of "Alice Through The Looking Glass" as the 'Red Queen'. Later, in 1945, she rejoined Novello in his "Perchance to Dream" succeeding Margaret Rutherford in the part of 'Lady Charlotte Fayre'. "King's Rhapsody", it's successor, was the last musical in which Novello appeared himself before his death. Zena took the role of the royal mother, with sister Phyllis playing his faithful mistress.
Following this Zena spent some time in Coward's "Nude with Violin", having succeeded Joyce Carey as the bogus painter's widow.
Her longest run of all was in her last role of 'Mrs Higgins' in the musical "My Fair Lady". Zena was to play this role for more than five years at Drury Lane following it up with a season on tour. This play brought the curtain finally down upon her long career.
In effect Zena had two careers, both successful, separated by 15 years. She was a big name at the time of her marriage in 1911, but when she returned in 1926, her name would have meant little. However, up until her retirement she regained her success with numerous light plays and musicals which suited the style, wit and sophistication of her acting. Even in old age, it was evident that Zena still displayed the charm, grace and vivacity so evident in the roles of her younger days.
She died in London on March 11th 1975 at the age of 88.
c. Alan Courtney - 14 Dec 2003 - Additional comments by Ed. in italics.
Many thanks to Alan for submitting this biography - Ed.