Dorothea Caroline "Doris" Devrient (née Böhler; 20 February 1801 – 29 May 1882) was a German actress and soprano singer, best known for comedic and soubrettes roles.

Early life

Dorothee Caroline Böhler was born on 20 February 1801 in

Kassel Kassel (; in Germany, spelled Cassel until 1926) is a city on the Fulda River in North Hesse, northern Hesse, in Central Germany (geography), central Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Regierungsbezirk Kassel (region), Kassel and the d ...

to actors William and Julia Böhler. Her father originally worked as a lawyer in

Mannheim Mannheim (; Palatine German language, Palatine German: or ), officially the University City of Mannheim (), is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, second-largest city in Baden-Württemberg after Stuttgart, the States of Ger ...

but was persuaded to take up acting by August Wilhelm Iffland and then gained a reputation in

Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main () is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Hesse. Its 773,068 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the List of cities in Germany by population, fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located in the forela ...

for comic and character roles. Her father personally educated her and her older sister Christine himself. She made her acting debut on 22 July 1814 as Hannchen in ''Der kleine Matrose''. Her father's death in 1816 prompted her mother and sister to accept an engagement at the Estates Theatre in

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

, where Doris portrayed children's parts. Along with her mother and sister, she went to the Stadttheater in

Leipzig Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...

in 1817, which was then under the direction of Karl Theodor von Küstner, where she continued to be a child actor. During this time she was known as the "little Böhler", while her sister was known as the "great Böhler". There she met actor Emil Devrient and married him on 3 February 1825.

Career

Doris Devrient by Carl Heinrich Kitzerow

Devrient specialised in comedic and soubrettes roles. In 1828, she sang the part of Emmy in the Leipzig premiere of

Heinrich Marschner Heinrich August Marschner (16 August 1795 – 14 December 1861) was a German composer best known for his operas. He is considered to be the most important composer of German opera between Weber and Wagner.Der Vampyr''. The same year, Devrient and her husband Emil left Leipzig and then was engaged in

Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...

and performed there together. After her husband had an argument, the couple transferred to the Dresden Court Theatre where she worked from 1831 to 1843. She also had roles in '' Minna von Barnhelm'', ''Bezämte Widerspenstige'', ''Bräutigam von Mexico'', ''Welcher ist der Bräutigam'', ''Laune des Berliebten'', ''Donna Diana'', ''Hagestolzen'' on the stage.

Personal life and death

The Devrients had four children together but their marriage started to fail in the late 1830s as the natural and fun-loving Doris clashed with the emotionally controlling Emil. In 1842, she fell in love with a Polish merchant. Because her husband would not agree to a divorce, she filed against herself as an adulteress and was sent to prison for it. However, it brought her a divorce. The scandal ended her career as a court actress in 1843. After her release, she married her lover and went with him to Poland, while her husband Emil gained custody of their children. However, this marriage also failed, and Devrient returned to

Dresden Dresden (; ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; , ) is the capital city of the States of Germany, German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, 12th most p ...

in the 1870s. Devrient died on 29 May 1882 in Blasewitz in Dresden.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devrient, Doris 1801 births 1882 deaths 19th-century German actresses 19th-century German women opera singers Actors from Kassel Musicians from Kassel German operatic sopranos German stage actresses German child actresses