The Darling Strumpet

Katherine Mitchell Corey, also referred to as Kate – actress in the King’s Company, specialising in character roles.

Dicky One-Shank – old sailor and scenekeeper at the Theatre Royal.

Harry Killigrew – son of Thomas Killigrew and lover of Rose Gwynn.

Aphra Behn – playwright with the Duke’s Company and friend of Nell.

Anne Marshall – actress in the King’s Company. Probably the first English woman to appear on the professional stage.

Rebecca Marshall, also referred to as Beck – actress in the King’s Company.

Moll Davis – actress in the Duke’s Company. Mistress of King Charles, and a rival of Nell’s.

Mary Meggs, known as Orange Moll – holder of the concession to sell oranges and sweetmeats at the Theatre Royal.

Margaret Hughes, also referred to as Peg – actress in the King’s Company and friend of Nell.

Edward Kynaston, also referred to as Ned – actor in the King’s Company.

Elizabeth Barry, also referred to as Betty – actress with the Duke’s Company and mistress of the Earl of Rochester.

Marmaduke Watson – young actor in the King’s Company.

Theophilus Bird, referred to as Theo – young actor in the King’s Company, son of an actor by the same name.

Nicholas Burt – old actor in the King’s Company.

William Cartwright – old actor in the King’s Company.

Frances Davenport, also referred to as Franki – actress in the King’s Company. Sister of Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Davenport, also referred to as Betty – actress in the King’s Company. Sister of Frances.

Elizabeth Weaver – actress in the King’s Company.

Betty Hall – actress in the King’s Company.

Richard Bell – actor in the King’s Company.

Anne Reeves – young actress in the King’s Company and mistress of John Dryden.

Matt Kempton – scenekeeper at the Theatre Royal.

Willie Taimes – scenekeeper at the Theatre Royal.

Richard Baxter – scenekeeper at the Theatre Royal.

Sir Edward Howard – playwright.

Charles II – king of England. Succeeded to throne upon execution of his father Charles I in 1649. Restored to the throne 1660.

Catherine of Braganza – Charles II’s queen, who had been the Infanta of Portugal.

James, the Duke of York – younger brother of Charles II and later King James II.

George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham – intimate of King Charles. Friend and advisor of Nell. Playwright, poet, politician.

John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester – intimate friend of King Charles and Nell. Poet and playwright.

Charles Sackville, Lord Buckhurst, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex – poet and playwright.

Sir Charles Sedley – playwright, and a friend of Dorset and Rochester. Known to his friends as ‘Little Sid’.

Barbara Villiers Palmer, Lady Castlemaine, Duchess of Cleveland – longtime mistress of Charles II.

Louise de Keroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth – unpopular French mistress of Charles II.

Hortense Mancini, Duchess Mazarin – tempestuous mistress of Charles II, who he had wanted to marry as a young man.

James Crofts, Duke of Monmouth – illegitimate son and oldest child of Charles II. Friend of Nell. The namesake of Nell’s little boy Jemmy.

Sir Henry Savile – courtier and friend of Nell’s. Charles’s Envoy Extraordinaire to France.

Anna Maria, Countess of Shrewsbury – mistress of the Duke of Buckingham and mother of his child, the Earl of Coventry, who died as an infant.

Lady Diana de Vere – Daughter of Aubrey de Vere, the twentieth and last Earl of Oxford.

NELL’S HOUSEHOLD

Meg – longtime servant of Nell.

Bridget – longtime servant of Nell.

Thomas Groundes – Nell’s steward.

John – Nell’s coachman.

Tom – Nell’s chair man.

Fleetwood Shepard – courtier and poet. Tutor to Nell’s boys.

Thomas Otway – playwright and tutor to Nell’s boys.

OTHER FRIENDS AND ADVISORS

Samuel Pepys, also referred to as Sam – theatre aficionado, friend of Nell, and well acquainted with the king, Duke of York, and others at court through his position as Clerk of the Acts of the Navy Board.

Dr. Thomas Tenison – vicar of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and spiritual advisor to Nell.