Siranoush

Siranoush (Merobe Kantarjian) was a famed actress in the Ottoman Empire in the mid-19^th century. She began to pursue her acting career at the age of 16. Her career flourished in Constantinople until Sultan Abdul Hamid II banned (1878) the production of Armenian plays. Siranoush moved to Tbilisi and other Armenian populated areas to continue acting. She was the first Armenian and one of the few women who played the main role in “Hamlet”. Critics compared her to Sarah Bernhardt. She played nearly 300 roles, touring in Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Romania, and Russia.

Siranoush (Merobe Kantarjian) was a famed actress in the Ottoman Empire in the mid-19^th century. She began to pursue her acting career at the age of 16. Her career flourished in Constantinople until Sultan Abdul Hamid II banned (1878) the production of Armenian plays. Siranoush moved to Tbilisi and other Armenian populated areas to continue acting. She was the first Armenian and one of the few women who played the main role in “Hamlet”. Critics compared her to Sarah Bernhardt. She played nearly 300 roles, touring in Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Romania, and Russia.