stirling was born in mayfair on 29 july 1815, the daughter of mary ann (born spense) and a spendthrift father captain simon kehl. she appeared at the pavilion theatre, whitechapel in january 1832. later that year she married the playwright edward lambert. they worked together and they were known as mr and mrs stirling and her husband's first play was "sadak and kalasrade" which was performed in theatre royal, birmingham in 1835. having been successful as celia in "as you like it" and sophia in "the road to ruin", macready gave her an opportunity to play cordelia to his "lear", and madeline weir to his james v in the rev. james white's "king of the commons".