Praskovya Zhemchugova was a Russian actress and singer, a serf of the Sheremetev family. Born into the family of a blacksmith in Yaroslavl Province, she was brought to the Sheremetevs’ estate in Kuskovo near Moscow, where she was trained in music and stage performance for the serf theatre. She made her stage debut in 1779 and later performed under the stage name Zhemchugova. She possessed a lyric‑dramatic soprano voice, spoke foreign languages, and played musical instruments. She gained recognition for her leading roles in operas by Grétry, Monsigny, Paisiello, and other composers. Her performances were highly praised by contemporaries, including Empress Catherine II. In the late 1790s, she moved to St. Petersburg with Sheremetev’s troupe but was forced to leave the stage due to illness. In 1798, she was granted her freedom, and in 1801 she married Count Nikolai Sheremetev. The Bakhrushin Theatre Museum collection holds portraits of Praskovya Zhemchugova.