Italia Conti

Italia Emily Stella Conti (1873–8 February 1946) was an English actress and founder of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London. Born in London to Luigi Conti, an opera singer and Garibaldi's Mille expedition member, and Emily Mary Castle, the family moved to Brighton. After her father's death in 1917 at Brookwood Asylum, Conti was educated in Haywards Heath and Kensington Academy.

Conti began her acting career with a small role in *The Last Word* at the Lyceum Theatre. She mentored Gertrude Lawrence for free after Lawrence auditioned as a 10-year-old, helping her launch her theatre career. This led Conti to establish the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, initially located in Lamb's Conduit Street but destroyed by bombing in May 1940. The school was later revived at the Tavistock Little Theatre in Bloomsbury and continues today in a new facility in Woking, Surrey.

Italia Conti passed away on 8 February 1946 in Southbourne, Bournemouth. Her academy remains prominent, contributing significantly to theatre arts education.