Actress, born in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. One of the first major native-born US actresses, she began as an opera singer but turned to acting after she overstrained her voice; the vocal damage left her with a husky, veiled quality that she used to great advantage, often playing male roles (including Romeo and Hamlet). By 1842 she was managing as well as starring at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. After moving to England in 1845, she became the toast of the London stage. She spent the next 25 years living in England or Rome, then returned to the USA, where she made a triumphal farewell tour in 18745.
Early life
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she was encouraged by her mother to take up singing and after attempting opera unsuccessfully, she tried acting, making her stage debut in 1836 in New Orleans.
She went on to become one of the greatest actresses of her day, successful at home as well as on the London stage. She made England her home for several years, becoming friends with the author Geraldine Jewsbury, who is said to have based a character on Cushman in her 1848 novel The Half Sisters.
Cushman was not attractive physically, in the traditional sense.
By 1839, her younger sister Susan Cushman became an actress, and at the age of 14 had married Nelson Merriman.
In 1843, Cushman became involved romantically with artist Thomas Sully.
In 1848, Cushman met journalist, writer and part time actress Matilda Hays.
In 1849, Cushman returned to America, but by 1852 she had decided to retire from the stage and took up residence with Hays in Rome, Italy. Cushman used her notoriety to promote the works of African American/Native American sculptor Edmonia Lewis, who had became a close friend, and whom Cushman greatly admired.
In 1854, Hays left Cushman for lesbian sculptor Harriet Hosmer, which launched a series of jealous interactions between the three women. Hays eventually returned to live with Cushman, but the tensions between her and Cushman would never be repaired. By late 1857, Cushman was secretly involved with lesbian sculptor Emma Stebbins. One night while Cushman was writing a note, Hays walked in on her. Although Cushman maintained that the note was not to Stebbins, she refused to show it to Hays. Hays became enraged, and began chasing Cushman around the house pounding her at every opportunity with her fists. She then sued Cushman stating in her claim that she had sacrificed her own career to support Cushman's career, and therefore was due a certain payment. Cushman paid her an unknown sum, and the two women parted company forever.
Emme Stebbins moved in with Cushman shortly after the break-up. Cushman travelled to America for a short tour a couple of months later. Although Cushman maintained that she was devoted to Stebbins, she became involved with another woman not long after her relationship with Stebbins began. Cushman had met 18 year old actress Emma Crow, and Cushman immediately fell for her. The two women began an affair, and Cushman often called her "my little lover".
When Cushman returned to Italy, Crow followed. Not long after arriving in Italy, Crow attracted the attention of Cushman's nephew, Ned Cushman.
In 1869, Cushman underwent treatment for breast cancer. Stebbins ignored her own sculpting career and devoted all of her time to caring for Cushman.
Charlotte Cushman died of pneumonia in Boston in 1876, aged 59, and was interred in Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Charlotte Cushman biography on glbtq.com.
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