Nana characters

Appears from the start

A young Paris performer making her first major appearance as Venus at the Théâtre des Variétés. She sings poorly and has little stage technique, but her confidence and physical presence captivate the audience. Her sudden celebrity gives her access to wealthy admirers even as her private finances remain disorderly.

Appears from the start

The blunt, commercially minded manager of the Théâtre des Variétés. He promotes Nana in a spectacular new production despite her lack of conventional talent, trusting that her notoriety and appeal will fill the house.

Appears from the start

A devout, dignified imperial courtier who attends Nana's opening performance with his father-in-law. He initially treats the theater and its performers with moral disapproval, but Nana's presence unsettles his composure.

Appears from the start

A journalist and theater critic moving easily between backstage Paris and aristocratic drawing rooms. Observant and cynical, he recognizes both Nana's cultural impact and the appetite of the respectable society drawn to her.

Appears from the start

An established actress at the Variétés whose professional skill is threatened by Nana's immediate popularity. She is practical about admirers and money, and her rivalry with Nana extends beyond the stage.

Appears from the start

Rose's husband and businesslike manager. He tolerates and organizes her relationships with wealthy men while protecting the household and the interests of their children.

Appears from the start

A wealthy banker and habitual pursuer of actresses. He is among the men drawn toward Nana after her debut, treating lavish spending and romantic competition as extensions of financial speculation.

First appears in chapter 2

Nana's capable maid, who manages the stream of callers, creditors, gifts, and competing lovers at her apartment. Discreet and practical, she helps maintain order around her mistress's unstable domestic arrangements.

First appears in chapter 3

The Count's poised wife and hostess of an aristocratic Paris salon. Her elegant household appears respectable, although the conversation and relationships around it reveal strains beneath that surface.

Appears from the start

Count Muffat's elderly father-in-law, outwardly a guardian of rank and propriety but privately eager for sexual adventures. He accompanies Muffat to the theater and watches Nana with concealed interest.

First appears in chapter 5

A very young member of the Hugon family who meets Nana in the country. Romantic, inexperienced, and immediately devoted to her, he approaches their relationship with an emotional seriousness she does not share.

First appears in chapter 5

Georges Hugon's elder brother, an army officer with a more assured manner. He belongs to the respectable family circle that Nana encounters outside the theater world.

Appears from the start

An actor at the Variétés whose comic stage presence attracts Nana. Proud and temperamental, he offers an alternative to the wealthy patrons who compete for her attention.

First appears in chapter 7

A woman from Nana's earlier street life who moves through poorer and less protected parts of Paris. Their renewed friendship gives Nana companionship outside her arrangements with rich men.

Appears from the start

An aristocratic sportsman and gambler who is prominent in the fashionable circle surrounding the theater and racecourse. His confidence depends on credit, betting, and the appearance of inexhaustible wealth.

First appears in chapter 2

Nana's small son, who is being cared for away from the turmoil of her apartment. Her concern for him coexists with the irregular schedule and finances of her new celebrity.