Nell GwynneNell Gwyn (or Gwynn or Gwynne), (February 1650 - 14 November 1687), the most famous of the many mistresses of King Charles II, was called "pretty, witty Nell" by Samuel Pepys. Nell Gwynn was one of the first actresses and the mistress of Charles II.The daughter of Thomas Gywnne and his wife Rose, Nell Gwyn was probably born in an alley near Covent Garden (though sometimes said to have been born in Hereford) and never learned to read or write. Her mother ran a bawdyhouse, where Nell grew up. (Her mother died because she passed out from too much brandy and drowned in a brook.) Having first made a living selling oranges, she became an actress (not at that time a respectable profession) when she was fifteen. When she was 19 she became the king's mistress, having previously been the mistress of Lord Buckhurst. Nell is remembered for one particularly apt witticism, which was recounted in the memoirs of the Comte de Gramont, remembering the events of 1681:
This appeal to British bigotry made her immensely popular. The particular Catholic whore (of the moment) was Louise de Keroualle, the Duchess of Portsmouth. Nell is also famous for another remark made to her coachman, who was fighting with another man who had called her a whore. She broke up the fight, saying, "I am a whore. Find something else to fight about." By Charles, Nell had two sons, Charles Beauclerk (1670-1726) and James Beauclerk (1671-1680). Charles was the first Duke of St Albans. Nell was the only one of Charles II's many mistresses to be genuinely popular with the English public. It is thought to have been Nell who persuaded the king to build the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in London for ex-servicemen. Nell, however, accumulated enormous debts. James II, obeying his brother's deathbed wish, "Let not poor Nelly starve," paid most of them off and gave her a pension of 1500 pounds a year, a huge sum in 1685. She died, two years later, of apoplexy, aged 37, at 79 Pall Mall, in London. She was buried in the Church of St Martin's in the Fields, at the corner of Trafalgar Square, London, after a funeral in which Thomas Tenison, the Archbishop of Canterbury, preached a sermon on the text of Luke 15:7 "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." This page about Nell Gwynne includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Nell Gwynne News stories about Nell Gwynne External links for Nell Gwynne Videos for Nell Gwynne Wikis about Nell Gwynne Discussion Groups about Nell Gwynne Blogs about Nell Gwynne Images of Nell Gwynne |
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She was buried in the Church of St Martin's in the Fields, at the corner of Trafalgar Square, London, after a funeral in which Thomas Tenison, the Archbishop of Canterbury, preached a sermon on the text of Luke 15:7 "Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.". She described it as "an amazing experience" (http://www.thebakersfieldchannel.com/entertainment/2171866/detail.html). She died, two years later, of apoplexy, aged 37, at 79 Pall Mall, in London. In 2003 Jennifer (with Bo Derek) visited troops who are recovering from their 2003 Iraq war injuries at Washington, D.C.'s Bethesda Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. James II, obeying his brother's deathbed wish, "Let not poor Nelly starve," paid most of them off and gave her a pension of 1500 pounds a year, a huge sum in 1685. Paltrow sent a reply a week later, and Hewitt framed it. Nell, however, accumulated enormous debts. Hewitt also wrote her a two page letter praising her as a role model and admiring her work. It is thought to have been Nell who persuaded the king to build the Royal Hospital, Chelsea in London for ex-servicemen. Hewitt sent three dozen pink roses to Gwyneth Paltrow the night before Paltrow won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1999. Nell was the only one of Charles II's many mistresses to be genuinely popular with the English public. Even more recently she was paired with Jackie Chan in the action comedyThe Tuxedo (2002). Charles was the first Duke of St Albans. She has starred with Sigourney Weaver in the movie Heartbreakers (2001), which also featured Gene Hackman and Ray Liotta. By Charles, Nell had two sons, Charles Beauclerk (1670-1726) and James Beauclerk (1671-1680). To date she has released 4 albums with some success, most notably outside the United States in places like Europe and Japan. Find something else to fight about.". She is perhaps most famous for the role of "Julie" in the films I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and the sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). She broke up the fight, saying, "I am a whore. She continued this role in the shortly lived Party of Five spinoff, Time of Your Life (1999) co-starring Jennifer Garner. Nell is also famous for another remark made to her coachman, who was fighting with another man who had called her a whore. She became a household name after landing the role of "Sarah Reeves" on the popular Fox Television show Party of Five (1995-1999). The particular Catholic whore (of the moment) was Louise de Keroualle, the Duchess of Portsmouth. Her first break came soon thereafter as a child actor on the Disney Channel variety show Kids Incorporated (1989-1991). This appeal to British bigotry made her immensely popular. She grew up in Killeen, Texas before moving to Los Angeles with her mother Pat at the age of 10 to pursue both acting and singing careers at the suggestion of talent scouts. Nell is remembered for one particularly apt witticism, which was recounted in the memoirs of the Comte de Gramont, remembering the events of 1681:. Jennifer Love Hewitt (born February 21, 1979 in Waco, Texas) is an American actress. When she was 19 she became the king's mistress, having previously been the mistress of Lord Buckhurst. Unofficial Site (http://lovehewitt.fanhost.com/). Having first made a living selling oranges, she became an actress (not at that time a respectable profession) when she was fifteen. Official Site (http://www.jenniferlovehewittonline.com/). (Her mother died because she passed out from too much brandy and drowned in a brook.). IMDb entry (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001349/). Her mother ran a bawdyhouse, where Nell grew up. BareNaked (2002). The daughter of Thomas Gywnne and his wife Rose, Nell Gwyn was probably born in an alley near Covent Garden (though sometimes said to have been born in Hereford) and never learned to read or write. Jennifer Love Hewitt (1996). Nell Gwyn (or Gwynn or Gwynne), (February 1650 - 14 November 1687), the most famous of the many mistresses of King Charles II, was called "pretty, witty Nell" by Samuel Pepys. Let's Go Bang (1995). Love Songs (1992) released in Japan only. Kids Incorporated (1989-1991). Byrds of Paradise (1994). Party of Five (1995-1999). Oh Yeah! Cartoons (1998). Time of Your Life (1999). In the Game (2005). Television
Sister Act 2 (1993). Trojan War - (1997). I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997). Telling You - (1998). I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Can't Hardly Wait - (1998). The Suburbans - (1999). The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000). Heartbreakers - (2001). The Devil And Daniel Webster - (2002). The Tuxedo - (2002). Garfield: The Movie - (2004). Movies
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