A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Mars, Mademoiselle Hyppolite Boutet
MARS, MADEMOISELLE HYPPOLITE BOUTET
Was an eminent French actress, who was born in 1778, and made her first appearance in public in 1793: so decided was her success, that she was soon engaged at the Théatre Français.
Her father, Monvel, who was an actor of great celebrity, in giving her instructions, had the good taste and judgment not to make her a mere creature of art. On the contrary, he taught her that much ought to be left to the inspiration of natural feelings, and that art ought only to second, not to supersede nature. Her original cast of parts consisted of those which the French term ingénues—parts in which youthful innocence and simplicity are represented. These she performed for many years with extraordinary applause. At length she resolved to shine in a diametrically opposite kind of acting—that of the higher class of coquettes. In accomplishing this, she had to encounter a violent opposition from Mademoiselle Leverd, who was already in possession of this department; for, in France, each actor has exclusive right to a certain line of character. Mademoiselle Mars succeeded, however, in breaking through this rule—a great triumph for her; and in the coquette she was fully as charming and successful as in personating the child of nature. She pleased foreigners as well as her own countrymen. Mr. Alison, the son of the historian, spoke of her as being "probably as perfect an actress in comedy as ever appeared on any stage. She has (he continues) united every advantage of countenance, and voice, and figure, which it is possible to conceive." Mademoiselle Mars was very beautiful, and retained her charms till a late period in life. This beauty gave, no doubt, additional power to her genius, and assisted her in establishing her sway over the theatrical world. At Lyons she was crowned publicly in the theatre with a garland of flowers, and a fete was celebrated in honour of her by the public bodies and authorities of the city. Her last performance at the theatre was at Paris, in April, 1841; and she died in that city in 1848, aged seventy years.