Nancy (Oliver Twist)

Nancy
Lotten Olsson in the role of Nancy
Created by	Charles Dickens
Portrayed by	Elita Proctor Otis Constance Collier Doris Lloyd Gladys Brockwell Georgia Brown Carmel McSharry Shani Wallis Kay Walsh Kate Bridal Cherie Lunghi Patti LuPone Amanda Harris Jackie Marks Sally Dexter Sonia Swaby Claire Moore Ruthie Henshall Antoine Byrne Emily Woof Jodie Prenger Tamsin Carroll Michèle-Barbara Pelletier Sarah Lark Kerry Ellis Hattie Rainford Antoine Byrne Sophie Okenedo Leanne Rowe Samantha Barks Kim Engelbrecht Bethany Muir Saira Choudhry Leanne Rowe Renata Renee Wilson Evelin Samuel Lucy Hunter-James Sophie Okonedo Cat Simmons Bethany Muir Gracie O'Connor Lotten Olsson Sophie Simnett Serena Bassil Nicola Coughlan Sam De Smedt Zehre van Mulders Jenny Fitzpatrick
In-universe information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Thief, prostitute

Nancy is a fictional character in the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and its several adaptations for theatre, television and films. She is a member of Fagin's gang and the lover, and eventual victim, of Bill Sikes.

As well as Nancy being a thief, a common suggestion is that she is a prostitute, in the modern sense of the word. At no point is this stated directly in the novel; rather it stems from Dickens describing her as such in his preface to the 1841 edition ("the boys are pickpockets, and the girl is a prostitute"^[1]). However, it has been speculated that he is invoking the term's then-synonymous usage referring to a woman living out of wedlock or otherwise on the margins of "respectable" society.^[2]

In spite of her criminality, Nancy is portrayed as a sympathetic figure, whose concern for Oliver overcomes her loyalty to Sikes and Fagin. By the climax of the novel, she is emaciated with sickness and worry, and filled with guilt about the life she is leading.