The tragic yet inspiring tale of Mary Ann Bevan exposes the darker side of 19th-century entertainment while emphasizing the eternal strength of parental love and sacrifice. Mary Ann was born in Plaistow, East London, in 1874. Her life drastically changed when she started showing signs of acromegaly, a rare disorder marked by an overabundance of growth hormone production.
Despite having a bright future as a nurse, Mary Ann’s life took a difficult turn as her husband passed away, leaving her to raise her four children by herself while dealing with the mental and physical effects of acromegaly. Because of the stigma attached to her appearance, Mary Ann found it harder and harder to get a job, which drove her to take drastic steps in order to provide for her family.
