And in a representation of "Othello" on February 6th, 1669, at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane (to which establishment Killigrew and his troop had removed from Vere Street in April, 1663), it is certain, on the evidence of Downes's "Roscius Anglicanus," that a Mrs.Hughes played the part of Desdemona to the Othello of Burt, the Iago of Mohun, and the Cassio of Hart.

Now, was this Mrs.Hughes, who had been a member of Killigrew's company from the first, the Desdemona on whose behalf, nine years before, Mr.
Thomas Jordan wrote his apologetic prologue?
It seems not unlikely.

At the same time it must be stated that there are other claimants to the distinction.

Tradition long pointed to Mrs.Betterton, the wife of the famous tragedian, as the first woman who ever appeared on the English stage.

She was originally known as Mrs.Saunderson--the title of Mistress being applied alike to maidens and matrons at the time of the Restoration--and married her illustrious husband about the year 1663.
She was one of four principal actresses whom Sir William Davenant lodged at his own house, and she appeared with great success as Ianthe upon the opening of his theatre with "The Siege of Rhodes." Pepys, indeed, repeatedly refers to her by her dramatic name of Ianthe.