BARRY, ELIZABETH (1658-1713), English actress. At first she was unsuccessful on the stage; but she was coached by her lover the earl of Rochester. Her performance as Isabella, queen of Hungary, in the earl of Orrery's Mustapha, was said to have caused Charles II. and the duke and duchess of York so much delight that the duchess took lessons in English from her, and when she became queen she gave Mrs. Barry her coronation robes in which to appear as Elizabeth. Mrs. Barry is said to have created over zoo parts. Betterton says that her acting gave "success to plays that would disgust the most patient reader." Dryden pronounced her "always excellent." Cibber is authority for the statement that it was on her behalf that benefits were first established for actors by command of James II. In 1709 she retired from the stage and died on Nov. 7 1713.