Elizabeth Boutell facts for kids

Elizabeth Boutell (born in the early 1650s, died 1715) was a famous British actress. She was one of the first women to perform on the English stage. This was a big deal because, before her time, only men acted in plays, even for female roles!

Early Career and Important Roles

Elizabeth Boutell joined the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, very early in her career. This theatre company was one of the first to allow women to act. Her first known performance was likely in 1663 or 1664. She played a character named Estifania in a play called Rule a Wife and Have a Wife.

Around 1670, she joined the King's Company. During the 1670s, she took on many important parts. For example, she played Benzayda in John Dryden's play The Conquest of Granada. She also likely played Rosalinda in Nathaniel Lee's Sophonisba.

Elizabeth Boutell was known for "creating" many characters. This means she was the first actress to play these roles. Some of her famous first roles include:

• Melantha in Dryden's Marriage à la mode (around 1672)
• Margery Pinchwife in William Wycherley's The Country Wife (1675)
• Cleopatra in Dryden's All for Love
• Mrs. Termagant in Shadwell's The Squire of Alsatia

Famous Performances and Partnerships

One of Elizabeth Boutell's most famous roles was Queen Statira in The Rival Queens (1677). Statira was a loving and trusting queen.

She often worked with another actress named Rebecca Marshall. They were known for playing characters who were in conflict. Elizabeth Boutell usually played the good or virtuous heroine, while Rebecca Marshall played the darker, opposing character.

Elizabeth Boutell was also very good at playing breeches roles. These were parts where a female character dressed up as a man. An example of this was her role as Fidelia in Wycherley's The Plain Dealer (1676).

There is a well-known story about a disagreement between Elizabeth Boutell and another actress, Mrs. Barry. During a performance of The Rival Queens, Mrs. Barry, who played Roxana, was supposed to pretend to stab Statira (played by Boutell). However, the story says Mrs. Barry accidentally stabbed Elizabeth Boutell for real! Luckily, the wound was not serious.

Later Life

After March 1678, Elizabeth Boutell did not perform for many years. Her husband, Barnaby Boutell, was a soldier. Some people think she might have traveled with him to Europe during the 1680s.

Her last known role was in 1696. She performed with Thomas Betterton's acting company in London, playing Thomyris in a play called Cyrus the Great.

In 1697, Elizabeth Boutell and her husband moved to Holland. She seemed to live comfortably for several years after that. She made her will in 1714, and it was officially recorded the following year, which means she passed away in 1715.

Selected Roles

• Donna Theodosia in An Evening's Love by John Dryden (1668)
• Aurelia in The Roman Empress by William Joyner (1670)
• Benzayda in The Conquest of Granada by John Dryden (1671)
• Christina in Love in a Wood by William Wycherley (1671)
• Lysander in The Generous Enemies by John Corye (1671)
• Melantha in Marriage à la mode by John Dryden (1672)
• Laura in The Assignation by John Dryden (1672)
• Alcinda in The Spanish Rogue by Thomas Duffett (1673)
• Cyara in Nero by Nathaniel Lee (1674)
• Clara in The Amorous Old Woman by Thomas Duffett (1674)
• Margery in The Country Wife by William Wycherley (1675)
• Bellinganna in Love in the Dark by Francis Fane (1675)
• Fidelia in The Plain Dealer by William Wycherley (1676)
• Statira in The Rival Queens by Nathaniel Lee (1677)
• Matilda in King Edgar and Alfreda by Thomas Ravenscroft (1677)
• Glorianda in Wits Led by the Nose by William Chamberlayne (1677)
• Cleopatra in All for Love by John Dryden (1677)
• Clarona in The Destruction of Jerusalem by John Crowne (1677)
• Semandra in Mithridates, King of Pontus by Nathaniel Lee (1678)
• Cellida in Trick for Trick by Thomas D'Urfey (1678)
• Rosalinda in Sophonisba by Nathaniel Lee (1681)
• Aurelia in A Fool's Preferment by Thomas D'Urfey (1688)
• Mrs Termagant in The Squire of Alsatia by Thomas Shadwell (1688)
• Mrs Fantast in Bury Fair by Thomas Shadwell (1689)
• Semanthe in The Treacherous Brothers by George Powell (1690)
• Lady Credulous in The English Frier by John Crowne (1690)
• Dowdy in She Ventures and He Wins by Ariadne (1695)
• Thomyris in Cyrus the Great by Joseph Banks (1695)
• Constantia in The She-Gallants by George Granville (1695)
• Clara in The City Bride by Joseph Harris (1696)
• Francilia in Love's a Jest by Peter Motteux (1696)