abstract:Henrietta Constance (Harriet) Smithson (1800 - 3 March 1854) was an Anglo-Irish actress, the first wife of Hector Berlioz, and the inspiration for his Symphonie Fantastique.
In 1827 Berlioz fell in love, wildly, passionately, dramaticallyof course, with anEnglishactress, HarrietSmithson, thenperformingin a seasonofShakespeare plays in Paris.