Portrait of Lady Becher (1791-1872), née Eliza O'Neill, seated three-quarter-length, in a white dress and red shawl, holding a script, by an urn, in a river landscape

Eliza O'Neill (1791-1872) began her acting career at the Drogheda Theatre and then moved to Dublin making her name as a tragedian. In 1814 she made her first appearance at Covent Garden as Juliet and there follows five years of leading roles. Men are said to have been borne fainting from the theatre after witnessing her tragic performances. On the 18th December 1819 she married William Wrixon Becher and never returned to the stage.