Toronto, and at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Montreal. She graduated from the Empire School of Dramatic Acting, New York, in 1894, where she studied under Nelson Wheatcroft. Her acting skills brought the attention of theatre impresario Charles Frohman who enabled her professional stage debut in 1894 in the Bronson Howard production of Shenandoah.

An injury sustained while out riding laid her up for some months.