NAUSICAA
"Amours of actresses. Nell Gwynn," (U13.856)
Eleanor 'Nell' Gwynn (1650 - 1687), was one of the earliest English actresses to receive prominent recognition, and a long-time mistress of King Charles II. She was called "pretty, witty Nell" by Samuel Pepys. She has entered history as a living embodiment of the spirit of Restoration England, and also as a folk heroine who lived a Cinderella rags-to-royalty tale. She gave 2 sons to the King: Charles Beauclerk (b. 1670) and James Beauclerk (b. 1671). Nell was the only one of Charles II's mistresses to be genuinely popular with the English public.
