- "Ruby was a very handsome young lady, now thinking herself quite as grown up as she really was; she wore her skirts as long as her mother would let her and did her hair up in town, though she had to take it down when she went home. She had large, bright-blue eyes, a brilliant complexion, and a plump showy figure. She laughed a great deal, was cheerful and good-tempered, and enjoyed the pleasant things of life frankly."
- —Anne Shirley[src]
Ruby Gillis was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gillis, sister of Susan and several Gillis girls and the friend of Anne Shirley.
Biography
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Early life
Ruby was born in 1865 in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, to Mr. and Mrs. Gillis. She was raised there along with her sister Susan and several older sisters. Jane Andrews became Ruby's best friend.
School life
Ruby attended Avonlea school in September 1871 along with her best friend Jane, Diana Barry and Josie Pye. Anne and Diana invited her, along with Jane, to join their Story Club. According to Anne, Ruby's stories apparently had too much love-making in them.
Studies at Queen's Academy
Ruby joined a special class for students who wanted to become a teacher. She successfully passed the test and in September 1880, she attended Queen's Academy. Ruby studied there for one year and graduated in June 1881 with a Second Class teacher's licence, along with her friend Jane Andrews. Her fellow Avonlea classmates Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe, however, took up Second Year work and obtained First Class licences in one year. The last of their little group, Josie Pye, Charlie Sloane and Moody Spurgeon MacPherson, all studied at Queen's for two years.
Death
- "Ruby Gillis is dying of galloping consumption."
- —Rachel Lynde about Ruby's illness[src]
Ruby wasn't able to teach since she had that attack of congestion in the winter 1883. She said that she wanted to teach in White Sands in the fall and marry with Herb Spencer. Ruby and her family did not want to give up on her, so they went on with their lives as if she was perfectly fine. Sadly, her inevitable death came in August 1884.
Personality
- "She laughed a great deal, was cheerful and good-tempered, and enjoyed the pleasant things of life frankly."
- —Ruby at Queen's[src]
- "Ruby Gillis was a great girl to laugh."
- —Davy Keith to Anne Shirley after Ruby's funeral.[src]
Ruby was kind, positive and charming, but "frivolous" and "shallow". When Priscilla Grant noted that she found Ruby's tendency to talk constantly of boys to be very irritating especially compared to Philippa Gordon's similar habit, Anne comments that "Ruby is really so CONSCIOUS of boys. She plays at love and love-making. ...when she is boasting of her beaux that she is doing it to rub it well into you that you haven't half so many." Ruby made friends easily, but did not form deep relationships, which she regretted when she neared her early death.
Physical appearance
- "She had large, bright-blue eyes, a brilliant complexion, and a plump showy figure. ... Ruby Gillis was the handsomest girl of the year at the Academy."
- —Ruby's appearance at Queen's[src]
Ruby had pale skin, silky blonde hair and "bright, beautiful blue eyes". She was a renowned Avonlea beauty and many girls and young women were jealous of her appearance.
Etymology
Ruby is a female given name of English origin and means red gemstone. It was very popular name in late 19th century.
Behind the scenes
Portrayal
- Zoe Fraser played the part in the 2016 film L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.
- Sara Vaittinen portrays Ruby in the Finnish web series Project Green Gables (2015–2016).
- Abigail Snarr played her in Green Gables Fables (2014–2016), an American-Canadian web series and the modern adaptation of Anne of Green Gables.
- Melanie Hinze provided the voice of Ruby in the German audio dramas Anne auf Green Gables (2008) and Anne in Kingsport (2009).
- Jennifer Inch portrayed Ruby in Anne of Green Gables (1985) and Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel (1987). Jennifer also appeared in Road to Avonlea as Maid at Stanley Estate and as Sara's mother.
- Makoto Kousaka replaced Mami Koyama in the voice role of Ruby Gillis in the Japanese TV series Akage no An (1979).
- Mami Koyama was Ruby's voice actress in Akage no An. Mami also provided the voice of Minnie May Barry.
- Kim Hardy portrayed her in the 1972 TV series Anne of Green Gables and in its sequel, Anne of Avonlea (1975).
- Lýdia Rišková provided the voice of Ruby in the 1966 radio drama Anna zo Zeleného domu.
- Janet Reid portrayed Ruby in the 1952 TV series Anne of Green Gables, also starring Carole Lorimer as Anne Shirley. Reid was the first actress to play the part in live-action adaptation of Anne of Green Gables.
- Beryl Burton was Ruby's voice actress in the 1944 radio drama
- Stella Andrew provided the voice of Ruby in the British radio drama, Anne of Green Gables (1941).
- Since 1967, these actresses have portrayed Ruby in the Charlottetown production of Anne of Green Gables – The Musical: Patti Toms (1967–1971), Amanda Hancox (1972–1975), Anne Wootten (1976), Susan Cuthbert (1977–1978), Carol Appel (1979), Kerry Gage (1998–1999), Brenley Charkow (2000), Danya Gensiorek (2001), Allison Plamondon (2002), Fiona Vroom (2003), Robin Calvert (2004–2006), Danielle Benton (2007–2008, 2010), Amber Nottell (2009), Kyla Musselman (2011–2012) and Sarah Vance (2015).
Trivia
- Ruby's death is thematically significant in that she has not lived well in Anne's estimation but she dies well, reaching out to her estranged friends and repairing her damaged relationships. In the end, Ruby's death is pitiable but also brave and honest. One of the core themes of Anne of the Island is Anne's philosophical journey and Ruby's death is important in this context.
Gallery
Anne of Green Gables Wiki has 109 images of Ruby Gillis (view gallery). |
Appearances
- Main article: Ruby Gillis/Appearances
Book appearances
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Film appearances
TV series appearances
Stage appearances Radio drama appearances
Audio drama appearances
Web adaptations appearances
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