an English actress who became the lover of King Charles II. She sold oranges on the streets of London, and is often shown in pictures carrying a basket of oranges (?1650-87). orig. Eleanor Gwyn born Feb. 2, 1650, London, Eng. died Nov. 14, 1687, London British actress. She was selling oranges at the Drury Lane Theatre when she became the mistress of its leading actor, Charles Hart, who trained her for the stage. She became the leading comedienne of the King's Company (1666-69) and as "pretty, witty Nell" was in demand as a speaker of impudent prologues and epilogues. She became the mistress of Charles II (1669-85) and was popular with the public, who found her high spirits and frank recklessness welcome antidotes to Puritanism
a character in the book The Old Curiosity Shop (1841) by Charles Dickens. Many people think of the death of Little Nell as one of the saddest stories in English literature, although some people think it is so sad that it seems silly and emotional