Madeleine Lemeine, stage name Mademoiselle Beaupré (c. 1598 – 1655), was a French stage actress. Scott, Virginia (2010). '' Women on the stage in early modern France : 1540-1750''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. . She was the daughter of a merchant from Chatres-sous-Montlhery in the Ile-de-France. In 1623, she married the actor Nicolas Lion, stage name Beaupré: at the time of her marriage she was described as ''majeure'', that is of legal age, and therefore over the age of 25. Her spouse was active in the provinces while she performed in Paris. In 1644 it was noted that she was “separee de biens avec lui”, that is legally separated. She was engaged in the Grands Comediens ( Comédiens du Roi) at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, which was opened in 1628. In 1632, she and five other actresses of the theatre are identified. Other actresses of the theater were

Mlle Valliot Elisabeth Dispannet, stage name Mademoiselle Valliot (fl. 1632 – ?), was a French stage actress. Scott, Virginia (2010). '' Women on the stage in early modern France : 1540-1750''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. . Her background is ...

Mlle Bellerose Nicole Gassot, known under her stage name Mademoiselle Bellerose (1605 – 1679), was a French stage actress. She was the daughter of the actor Jean Gassot, stage name La Fortune. She and her father were members of the same theatre company ...

Mlle Le Noir Isabelle Mestivier (or more rarely Elizabeth Mestivier), stage name Mademoiselle Le Noir (fl. 1631 – fl. 1647), was a French stage actress. Scott, Virginia (2010). '' Women on the stage in early modern France : 1540-1750''. Cambridge: Cambrid ...

and Mlle Beauchateau. Mlle Beaupre and Mlle Valliot are described as the two principal star actresses of the theatre. The repertoire of the theatre are documented and clearly show that roles for women are provided for in the plays, but it is not confirmed which actor played which role. They appear to have been known for farce and

breeches role A breeches role (also pants role or trouser role, or Hosenrolle) is one in which an actress appears in male clothing. Breeches, tight-fitting knee-length pants, were the standard male garment at the time these roles were introduced. The theatric ...

s. They are known to have played the two major roles as the wives of Gaultier and Boniface in the farce ''La Comedie des comediens'' by Gougenot. Mlle Beaupre is noted in an incident from 1649 described by Tallemant. According to Tallemant, Mlle Beaupre performed at the

Théâtre du Marais The Théâtre du Marais has been the name of several theatres and theatrical troupes in Paris, France. The original and most famous theatre of the name operated in the 17th century. The name was briefly revived for a revolutionary theatre in 1791, ...

when she came in to conflict with a young actress: :“‘I can see, Mademoiselle,’ said Mlle Beaupre´, ‘that you want to see me sword in hand.’ And so saying, she went to fetch two blunted swords. The girl took one, thinking it was a joke. Mlle Beaupre´, angry, wounded her in the neck and would have killed her.” She was apparently wealthy, as she is noted to have loaned 10,333 livres, 8

sous The Sous region (also spelt Sus, Suss, Souss or Sousse) ( ar, سوس, sūs, shi, ⵙⵓⵙ, sus) is an area in mid-southern Morocco. Geologically, it is the alluvial basin of the Sous River (''Asif n Sus''), separated from the Sahara desert ...

to the owners of the Marais in 1647.

References

16th-century births 17th-century deaths 17th-century French actresses French stage actresses {{France-stage-actor-stub