There is all the difference in the world between departure from recognised rules by one who has learned to obey them, and neglect of them through want of training or want of skill or want of understanding. Before you can be eccentric you must know where the circle is.

Because of Watts's paintings of her and her association with him Ellen Terry "became a cult figure for poets and painters of the later Pre-Raphaelite and Aesthetic movements including Oscar Wilde". Returning to England Ellen Terry played roles such as Nell Gwynne in The First Actress by Christopher St. Terry's first appearance on stage came at the age of eight when Ellen Terry appeared opposite Charles Kean as Mamillius in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale at London's Princess's Theatre in 1856.

She continued to find acting success until 1920 while also appearing in films until 1922. In 1903 Terry took over management of London's Imperial Theatre focusing on the plays of George Bernard Shaw and Henrik Ibsen.