Azniv Hrachia

Azniv Hrachia (born Azniv Grigori Minasian; Armenian: Ազնիվ Հրաչյա; 1853 – 20 May, 1919) was an Ottoman Armenian actress. She was also the first Armenian woman to serve as a director.

Early life Hrachia was born Azniv Minasian in Constantinople.

From a young age, she showed an interest in the arts and acting. Educated at a school run by Catholic nuns, she was not an academic high achiever; she displayed more interest in her school's theatre group, which she successfully joined. The first actresses were from religious minorities, as Islamic sex segregation prohibited Muslim women from performing onstage, and acting was not considered to be a respectable profession. Hrachia's mother agreed to let her daughter perform on the condition she was not paid for doing so, though Hrachia accepted the wages in secret.

While working at the Eastern Theatre, she also joined Güllü Agop's theatre troupe. Her acting style favoured believable reactions and natural body language. She also took great care with her speech, receiving recognition for her clear diction and use of tone to convey mood.

Personal life Hrachia married a railway construction worker in 1875, with whom she had three children. Due to her profession as an actress, it took several years for his family to accept his intention to marry her.

Death Hrachia died in Dilijan in 1919 following a long struggle with tuberculosis.

Select roles Hrachia's notable performances included:

Joan of Arc in The Maid of Orleans by Friedrich Schiller Sofia in Woe from Wit by Alexander Griboyedov Nina in Masquerade by Mikhail Lermontov Marguerite Gautier in The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas