Eucharis

Licinia Eucharis (fl. 1st century BC) was an adolescent Ancient Roman stage actress, who died at the age of 14. According to the epitaph on her tomb, which was written by her father, she was a star of the Theatre of ancient Rome. Her epitaph states that she had recently danced at "the games of the nobles", and that she had performed on the Greek stage before the People.

Eucharis was originally a slave, then a freedwoman, of the Roman woman Licinia. In contrast to Greece, where only male actors were allowed, the Romans allowed female performers. However, many prestigious theatres still barred women actors, and the majority of actresses performed on smaller stages as mimae, pantomime dancer-actresses, which was not regarded as a respectable profession, and therefore often performed by slaves or freedwomen.

Eucharis made a remarkable career. She came to belong to the minority of ancient Roman actresses to be allowed to perform in prestigious theatres and earn a respectable income on acting alone. She achieved fame and recognition and respect for her acting ability, and it was said that she performed so well as if she was “taught as if by the Muses’ hands.” She reportedly took pride in her profession and in the respect she earned.

Eucharis belonged to the handful of actresses known from the Roman Republic, including Antiodemis from Cyprus (2nd century BC), Arbuscula, Bacchis, Dionysia, Emphasis, Fabia Arete, Galeria Copiola, Sammula and Lucceia, Tertia, and Volumnia Cytheris.