[1] They immigrated to the United States in 1865, settling in San Francisco, California to allow Mabel better schooling.

She was behind the scenes with a friend during the performance of Oliver Twist and was asked at the last minute to replace a missing actress who had three lines.

Since that time, Bert took leading parts in various plays and appeared in all of the important cities of the U.S. She played leads for the John A. Stevens Company at the old Grand Opera House, San Francisco.

She gave birth to a baby girl, Doris Rankin, who later married Lionel Barrymore, Bert's costar in Arizona.

[citation needed] On 28 July 1893, Bert married Forrest Robinson,[4] who was an actor from Broadway and later starred in films of Mary Pickford.