LADY ROMEO

Delving into the life of an unconventional actress

Author Tana Wojczuk Publisher Simon & Schuster Price £20 Released Out now

Who was Charlotte Cushman? Once a much-celebrated queer actress in both America and Europe, she has disappeared from popular memory and become another figure erased from history. However, author Tana Wojczuk is here to correct that with her new biography exploring Cushman’s extraordinary life.

Becoming an actress at the age of 19, Cushman was known for being tall (5ft 7in) and was often described as ‘mannish’, with a strong body and wide shoulders. She used this to her advantage as she brought Shakespeare’s plays to life, playing both female and male characters on stage, such as Lady Macbeth and Romeo.

A pioneering actress, Cushman had a dramatic life both on and off the stage, engaging in a series of tempestuous love affairs with other women. Although her lifestyle was unconventional for the 19th century, she was both influential and successful – even President Abraham Lincoln was one of her fans!

While Wojczuk brings Cushman’s story to life, the book is fast-paced and there are moments where we just skip a few years ahead. Some deeper context about queer actors and actresses in the 19th century would have been nice to really bring that extra perspective to our understanding of Cushman’s life and why she was a woman so ahead of her time.

Nevertheless, this biography still offers a good starting point for those who want to explore queer history and it leaves you wanting to learn even more about this fascinating woman.