Introduction

Opening with a consideration of Marilyn Monroe as archetypal mad actress, the Introduction argues for the value of using experiences of mental illness as a lens through which to assess female performers’ work and celebrity. The Introduction surveys intersections of ‘performance’ and ‘madness,’ including the representation of madness in drama and film; the uses of psychology in approaches to acting; and examples of the performative in psychiatric practice. The Introduction locates the project as a work of theatre historiography which is informed by, and contributes to, broader fields including literary and film studies, gender studies and sociology.