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Billie Barlow was born in London on 18th July 1862 and made her debut at the Opera Comique in "H.M.S. Pinafore" under her real name, Minnie Barlow. It was W.S. Gilbert who suggested that she change it to Billie.
She went to New York with the D'Oyly Carte Company in 1879 where she appeared as Isabel in the premiere of "The Pirates of Penzance". She was in the London production of "Patience" in 1881, but that marked the end of her career in Gilbert and Sullivan.
She went back to America where she spent the next four years touring in operetta. When she returned to England, she played Nellie Farren's part in "Monte Cristo, Jun".
In 1888 she began to appear in the Music Halls and in Variety. She is better remembered for this part of her career. Two of her most successful turns were 'See Me Dance the Polka' and 'It's English, Quite English, You Know'. Later she spent several years touring Australia and South Africa where she appeared in English musical comedies as well as the Music Halls. She died on 11th February 1937.
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