When Charlotte Played Romeo—and Her Sister Played Julie

By LINDA DUPREE, The Players Foundation

Among the treasures in The Players Foundation's Staffordshire pottery collection are paired figurines of Charlotte Cushman (1816–1876) and her younger sister Susan Cushman (1822–1859). Both were actresses, but Charlotte became a legend — commanding Shakespearean roles with an authority rarely seen in her time.

One of their most famous appearances together was in Romeo and Juliet — Charlotte as Romeo, Susan as Juliet. Audiences marveled at the novelty and intensity of two sisters embodying Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers.

19th Century Shakespearean Actress, Charlotte Cushman

We also have a wonderful photograph of Charlotte in her Romeo costume. Contemporary reviewers described her Romeo as “manly” and “convincing,” praising her voice and presence for lending unusual power and emotional seriousness to the role. Far from a breeches-role novelty, Cushman’s Romeo was celebrated for its sincerity and strength.

So striking was her interpretation that Staffordshire potters immortalized the Cushman sisters in ceramic form. Their paired figurines carried the sensation from stage to parlor, allowing Victorian families to display theatre idols in their own homes.

Staffordshire pieces are now on view in the Actors Equity Room, where visitors can see the Cushman sisters’ legacy in clay alongside other treasures of The Players Foundation.

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Linda Dupree

Linda Dupree, former CEO of NCSolutions, now serves on The Players Foundation board, bringing her corporate leadership to the preservation of theatre and cultural history -- driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of the arts.