Nana from Peter Pan is arguably the most famous Newfoundland dog in English literature, a creation of the renowned Scottish author J.M. Barrie. Born James Matthew Barrie, (1860-1936), he was not only a journalist and playwright but also a celebrated children’s book author, knighted as a baronet in 1913. The inspiration for the Darling children’s capable canine nursemaid came from Barrie’s own life and beloved Newfoundland dog.
Barrie and his wife, Mary, owned a black and white Newfoundland named Luath, after a dog in Sir Edwin Landseer’s painting Twa Dogs. Luath served as the primary model for Nana’s character. Arthur Lupino, the first actor to embody Nana on stage, meticulously studied Luath at Barrie’s residence. Lupino incorporated many of Luath’s mannerisms into his performance, including a distinctive paw-banging gesture, bringing an authentic canine charm to the role of Peter Pan Nana.
Mary Ansell, Barrie’s wife, highlighted Luath’s natural fit for the Nana role in her 1924 book Dogs and Men. She noted, “…Porthos (their Saint Bernard) could never have been made into a Nana, whereas Luath was born to be one. All the delightful domestic duties performed by the stage nurse were exactly the kind of thing he would have reveled in, given the opportunity.” This insight reveals that Nana’s nurturing and responsible traits were directly inspired by the Newfoundland dog breed’s inherent characteristics.
In the narrative of Peter Pan, Nana is employed by the Darling parents to care for Wendy, John, and Michael. Despite Mr. Darling’s initial embarrassment about having a dog as a nurse on his modest income, Nana proves to be exceptionally competent. Original stage directions describe her as ideally played by “a boy, if one clever enough can be found,” emphasizing that Nana should primarily move on all fours, mirroring a dog’s natural gait, except for moments requiring human-like actions. Historically, in the original stage production and subsequent adaptations, Nana has often been portrayed by a male actor in a dog costume. George Ali’s portrayal of Nana in the 1924 silent film adaptation is particularly noted for its impressive depiction of the Peter Pan Nana character.
Claire Jackson, in a Country Life article from January 1, 2019, aptly describes Nana’s pre-Mary Poppins charm: “Before Mary Poppins, there was Nana, a ‘prim Newfoundland dog’ who ‘proved to be quite a treasure of a nurse’.” Nana expertly cared for Wendy, John, and Michael, allaying concerns about neighborhood opinions. Prepared for any eventuality, “she carried an umbrella in her mouth in case of rain,” and her kennel was naturally located in the nursery. The pivotal moment arrives when Mr. Darling chains Nana outside, allowing Peter Pan to enter the nursery window and lead the children to Neverland. Upon their return, Nana is joyfully reinstated to her nursery duties, living a long and cherished life. The character of Peter Pan Nana remains a testament to the Newfoundland breed’s gentle, protective nature and their capacity for devoted companionship, forever etched in literary and popular culture.
