Elsie Mackay

Biography

When Elsie Gertrude Mackay was born in Roebourne, Western Australia, Australia, her father, Samuel Peter Mckay, was 30 and her mother, Gertrude Florence Taylor was 27. Fanny Dango of the famous Rudge Sisters later became her stepmother and through her influence, got Elsie into stage acting which would comprise her career. Elsie Gertrude Mackay married actor Lionel Atwill on 7 February 1920, in Cook, Illinois, United States with whom she performed in several stage productions. Elsie Mackay had one film role in 1920, Nothing But the Truth. Motion Picture News of Jan-Feb 1920 noted it was her first film but reported that she "does not register...a screen personality. She appeared somewhat camera conscious...and did not photograph well. In 1933 Elsie married actor/writer Max Montesole. She died on 6 February 1963, in Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia, at the age of 69, and was buried in Caulfield South, Victoria, Australia.