Nadezhda Nikulina was a stage actress and Honored Artist of the Imperial Theatres. Born in 1845 in Moscow into a merchant family, she graduated from the Moscow Theatre School in 1863, where she studied under Vladimir Dmitrevsky and Ivan Samarin. Even during her studies, she began receiving roles in the Maly Theatre performances, and after joining the troupe, she specialized in comedic and vaudeville roles. The plays of Alexander Ostrovsky held a special place in Nadezhda Nikulina's repertoire. The playwright specifically wrote the role of Verochka for her in the play "The Jokers" (1864) and subsequently entrusted her with roles in almost every new production of his. Her repertoire included the roles of Glafira in "Wolves and Sheep" and Varvara in "The Storm". The online collection of the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum features photographs of Nadezhda Nikulina in various roles, as well as letters written by the actress, scripts for her roles, and other materials.