Mary Saunderson

[2] In Shakespeare's day, female roles were played by teenage boys, as women and young girls were not allowed on the stage.

Acting under the direction of William Davenant, Mary did very well, even to the point that she was frequently called Ianthe for the rest of her life.

Actor-playwright Colley Cibber considered her "so great a Mistress of Nature" who was the only actress able to "throw out those quick and careless Strokes of Terror from the Disorder of a guilty Mind … with a Facility in her Manner that render'd them at once tremendous and delightful".

Mary Betterton and her husband even informally adopted actress, Anne Bracegirdle, and played a key role in training her for the very successful and popular stage career that she would have.

[6] The "celebrated virgin" label that Bracegirdle received was easily attributed to the moral teachings that Betterton also provided when training the young actress.