# Iras — Antony and Cleopatra character guide > Iras in Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Iras Madam, sirrah Iras **First appearance:** 0002-act-i-scene-i ## Snapshot One of Cleopatra's attendant ladies, present at the queen's most private and public moments, a quiet witness to Egypt's dazzling, perilous court. ## Who they are Iras belongs to the small circle of women who dress, amuse, and attend Cleopatra, sharing scenes with Charmian and Alexas as the queen consults soothsayers and trades barbs with Antony. Where Charmian advises, Iras mostly observes, her presence a reminder that Cleopatra's grandeur is staged before an intimate female audience. Her loyalty will be tested as the lovers' fortunes turn, making her a barometer of how devotion to the queen plays out in the play's darker movements. ## Relationships ### [Mark Antony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/mark_antony) _friendship_ Iras is Cleopatra's attendant who interacts with Antony as part of the Egyptian court, showing loyalty to the queen's lover. ### [Cleopatra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/cleopatra) _friendship_ Iras is Cleopatra's loyal attendant and close companion, sharing in her intimate moments and final tragedy. ### [Menas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/menas) _social_ Iras and Menas are minor characters on opposite sides of the conflict, with limited direct interaction. ### [Charmian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/charmian) _friendship_ Charmian and Iras are fellow attendants to Cleopatra, sharing a close bond as her trusted companions. ### [Pompey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/pompey) _social_ Iras and Pompey have minimal direct interaction, as she is a servant in Egypt and he is a Roman rebel leader. ### [Charmian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/charmian) _friendship_ Charmian and Iras are fellow attendants to Cleopatra, sharing a close bond as her trusted companions. ### [Cleopatra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/cleopatra) _friendship_ Iras is Cleopatra's loyal attendant and close companion, sharing in her intimate moments and final tragedy. ### [Mark Antony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/mark_antony) _friendship_ Iras is Cleopatra's attendant who interacts with Antony as part of the Egyptian court, showing loyalty to the queen's lover. ### [Cleopatra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/cleopatra) _friendship_ Iras is Cleopatra's loyal attendant and close companion, sharing in her intimate moments and final tragedy. ### [Menas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/menas) _social_ Iras and Menas are minor characters on opposite sides of the conflict, with limited direct interaction. ### [Mark Antony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/mark_antony) _friendship_ Iras is Cleopatra's attendant who interacts with Antony as part of the Egyptian court, showing loyalty to the queen's lover. ### [Pompey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/pompey) _social_ Iras and Pompey have minimal direct interaction, as she is a servant in Egypt and he is a Roman rebel leader. ## In the story ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Participates in the fortune-telling scene with Charmian and Alexas. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii) Present in the scene with Cleopatra and Charmian. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v) Present in the scene as an attendant, though without lines. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-v) Present in the scene as one of Cleopatra's attendants. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii) Present during the interrogation. ### [Scene XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-xi) Accompanies Cleopatra and encourages her to speak to Antony. ### [Scene XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-xiii) Present as Cleopatra's attendant, silently witnessing the confrontation. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii) Present in the scene as part of Cleopatra's entourage. ### [Scene XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-xiii) Present with Cleopatra and Charmian during the scene. ### [Scene XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-xv) Assists Cleopatra and mourns with her. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii) Cleopatra's attendant, dies from the asp's bite before Cleopatra. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters/iras - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/antony_and_cleopatra_se/characters