Or rather the daughter of the farm maid now 106 is still alive (May 2010)l, Hardy had been inspired by the beauty of Gertrude’s mother Augusta Way, then an eighteen year-old milkmaid, when he visited Augusta’s father’s farm in Bockhampton. It is suggested by her daughter Norrie, that Augusta was the true inspiration for Tess, and being so taken with Augusta’s beauty, Hardy remembered her when writing the novel all those years later. When Hardy saw Gertrude Bugler (he rehearsed The Hardy Players at the hotel run by Gertrude’s parents), he immediately recognised her as the young image of the now older Augusta. (Woodhall, 2006/Wikipedia)
This sister would have likely become a well known actress but for the jealousy of Hardy’s wife.