THE HISTORY OF NELL
Image courtesy of Queen Anne's Gate © National Trust Photo Library
Born in 1650 to a bawdy house madam, Eleanor “Nell” Gwyn spent her early years in the slums of London during the Restoration period. Although little is definitively known about her childhood, it is widely believed that she assisted her mother in Coal Yard Alley until, in her early teens, she began working as an orange-seller at the King’s Theatre.
Nell’s quick wit and natural charm soon propelled her onto the stage, where she rose to become one of the most acclaimed actresses of Restoration theatre. She attracted a number of distinguished admirers, including the diarist Samuel Pepys, who famously referred to her as “Pretty, Witty Nell”, and the celebrated actor Charles Hart. The playwright John Dryden is known to have crafted roles specifically to highlight her comedic abilities.
Today, Nell Gwyn is perhaps best remembered as the long-time mistress of King Charles II. She is said to have humorously referred to the King as her “Charles the Third,” having previously been involved with two other men of the same name. While Charles II maintained relationships with many women, Nell appeared to hold a special place in his affections; on his deathbed, he is reputed to have urged, “Let not poor Nelly starve.”
'Charles II and Nell Gwyn', Edward Matthew Ward; Courtesy of vam.ac.uk
The couple had two sons, one of whom sadly died abroad at a young age. Although Nell herself was never granted a title—unlike many of the King’s other mistresses—she was resolute in her efforts to have their children acknowledged. According to one anecdote, when the King reproached her for calling to their son: “Come here, you little bastard, and see your father.” She sharply replied, “Your Majesty has given me no other name by which to call him.” Both sons received titles.
Despite the politics and rivalries of court life, Nell remained popular among the general public. On one occasion, when her carriage was mistaken for that of the King’s Catholic mistress, Louise de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth, she was accosted by an angry mob. Unperturbed, she leaned out and declared, “Pray, good people, be civil. I am the Protestant whore!”
Beyond her theatrical and social renown, Nell was also known for her philanthropy. She is credited with encouraging Charles II to found the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and upon her death, she bequeathed funds to aid the poor and to release debtors from prison at Christmas. Nell Gwyn died just two years after the King, still in her thirties, following a prolonged illness believed by many historians to have been syphilis.
'Portrait of Nell Gwyn', Sir Peter Lely; Courtesy of artnet.com
Nell! The Musical draws upon the remarkable life of Nell Gwyn—exploring her ambition, resilience, and enduring relationship with King Charles II.
Signature of Nell Gwyn; Courtesy of Wikipedia Commons