How did actresses change English theatre during the Restoration?

The introduction of actresses to the English stage was a defining innovation of the Restoration period, marking a significant departure from the Elizabethan tradition where female roles were performed by boy actors.123

These talented and flamboyant women replaced the male actors who had previously portrayed female characters, fundamentally altering the nature of theatrical performance. This shift occurred alongside the rise of a new, aristocratic audience that favored sophisticated comedy of manners and witty, cynical plays. The presence of actresses contributed to the era's focus on glittering conversation and intrigue, as the theatre became a space where the fashionable elite could see themselves reflected on stage. Among the most famous figures of this time was Nell Gwyn, who became a symbol of the new theatrical style.31