She was born at
Launceston, Cornwall. She first appeared on the stage at
Bath in December 1784, as Lappet in
Henry Fielding's
The Miser. After two seasons at Bath she performed in Exeter and Bristol, where in 1786 she married George Gosling Davenport (1758?–1814), a provincial actor. They later worked at the
Crow Street Theatre in Dublin, and at
Covent Garden. In 1806 she appeared as Lady Denny in
Henry VIII (play) with
Sarah Siddons as Queen Katherine,
John Philip Kemble as Cardinal Wolsey. Her husband’s acting talents were unequal to hers, though he was regarded as a useful member of the company, serving as secretary to the Covent Garden Theatrical Fund until he retired in 1812. After his death, Mary Ann lived in seclusion with her daughter. In 1817 she appeared again as Lady Denny in Henry VIII when the painting by
Benjamin Burnell was created for an exhibition at the
Royal Academy of Arts. She retired from the stage on 25 May 1830. She died at her house, 17 St Michael's Place,
Brompton, London, on 8 May 1843, and was buried at
St Paul's, Covent Garden. ==Selected roles==