Laborare est orare

fuckyeahhistorycrushes:

Nell Gywn is my constant inspiration. Starting out as an orange girl, she worked her way up to actress and was a great comedic star (despite being illiterate in a time when theatres played about ten shows in repertory and learned them all in around a week).

After having love affairs with Charles Hart and Charles Sackville (her Charles I & Charles II), she found her way into the bed of King Charles II of England, after charming and befriending him.

During the little time she spent at court, she was harassed and accused of being a whore, to which she completely agreed, pointing out that at least she could admit what she was while the other Duchesses and noble ladies played the innocent.

She was effervescent, witty, cheeky, and honest about herself. Others’ comments either rolled off her back or became fodder for one of her jokes (and no one was sacred). She truly loved Charles, with whom she had two sons, and only outlived him by a little more than two years.

This beautiful human being was open, happy, and fabulous. I wish I could convey just how amazing she is but suffice it to say, she influences me in my everyday life. What Would Nell Do?