She was born 24 February 1829 to the actress Martha Mary Thomson (née Cooke) and her spouse George Thomson, and arrived to Hobart in Tasmania with her parents in 1837. Her mother was a trained actress active in London, Hobart in Tasmania (1837–38) and Sydney's Royal Victoria Theatre (1838–40). She was given ballet instruction from the dance master Monsieur Charriere in Sydney. She debuted in Sydney in 1842. Her sisters, Christina Mary and Elizabeth Marion Thomson also took turns at the stage.
