| Jane Powell | |
| Birth Date: | c. 1761 |
| Birth Place: | Cranbrook, Kent |
| Death Date: | 31 December 1831 |
| Death Place: | London |
| Other Names: | Mrs Farmer, Mrs Renaud |
| Known For: | Acting |
| Spouse: | Mr Powell |
| Nationality: | British |
Jane Powell or Mrs Powell (c. 1761 – 31 December 1831) was a British actress. She was also known as Mrs Renaud and Mrs Farmer.
Powell was working as a maid in London for the family of Dr Budd circa 1778 when she shared a room with a younger maid named Emily Lyon. Powell's room-mate went on to become famous as Emma, Lady Hamilton, after marrying Sir William Hamilton (diplomat), the British Ambassador to Naples.[1]
Powell made her debut as Alicia in Nicholas Rowe's Jane Shore to mixed reviews in 1787, but her name was uncredited. She came to notice when she appeared at the Haymarket Theatre in the 1780s under the name of "Mrs Farmer" or "Mrs Palmer" as the papers failed to agree.[2]
She is thought to be the first woman to take the title role of Hamlet in London in 1796 when she appeared at Drury Lane.[3] She then took the role of Edmunda in Vortigern and Rowena after Sarah Siddons refused the role. The newly discovered play that was said to be by Shakespeare proved to be a forgery.[4]
Mrs Powell had a benefit at Drury Lane on 2 May 1795 when she played Young Norval. This role was recorded in Norval's death scene from Act V in a painting by Samuel De Wilde.[5] Samuel De Wilde had made a painting of her as Mary Queen of Scots and another of her as Boadicea. However the Garrick Club who own the paintings say that she never appeared in those roles in London.[6]
In the winter of 1800, Powell's former room-mate, Emma, Lady Hamilton attended one of her performances in Drury Lane with her lover Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson and his increasingly estranged wife Frances Nelson.[7]
Up to 1811 she was a regular at Drury Lane Theatre until she moved her allegiance to the Covent Garden Theatre. In 1812 her husband died and the following year she married John James Renaud and became Mrs Renaud. In 1814 the marriage was over but she kept the new name.[4]
In 1818 she moved to Edinburgh when she enjoyed being cast in leading productions.[4]
Powell died in London at the end of 1831.[8] It was said that she was still being paid two pounds a week by her manager in Edinburgh.[4]