Evolution of Actresses

The Evolution of the Actress:

From the 16th Century to Sarah Bernhardt

Looking back in history, it can be easily argued that the role of the actress in society has

gone through a notable evolution. During the 16th century, it was a rare occurrence for a woman

to be seen on stage. Women’s roles were played by young boys. It wasn’t until the 17th century

that women first appeared on the English and Parisian stages. However, it was considered

improper because women were expected to remain in the shadows, and actresses had to put

themselves on display in order to work. As the role of actresses evolved and they were seen more

frequently on stage, society considered them to have bad morals and be prostitutes. It wasn’t

until the late 19th century that the view of an actress in society had reached a respectable level.

This change was caused, in part, by Sarah Bernhardt. Sarah Bernhardt’s fame and notoriety in

film and on the French stage during the late 19th and early 20th centuries made being an actress a

respectable job for women in European society.

During the Elizabethan era in the 16th century, it was commonplace for a young

apprentice boy to play a woman’s role on stage. Lisa Jardine commented that this switching of

gender roles was universal and was, therefore disregarded by the audience.1 Women were not

seen on the European stage during this time. However, in Southern France women were making

strides and were seen on the French stage. “[S]outhern France’s records [show] that in 1509 at                                                               1 Lesley Ferris, Acting Women: Images of Women in Theatre (Washington Square, New York: New York University Press, 1989), xi.

1

Romans a production of the mystery play Le Mystère des Trois Doms designated all but one of

the female roles to women. These women performers all came from the local nobility and, with

two exceptions, were married.”2 Women were also...