The Australian premiere was given by Mr and Mrs Robert Brough's company at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, on 26 December 1898. Florence Brough played Catherine, and her husband played Napoleon. The play was adapted as an opera of the same name, composed by Umberto Giordano with a libretto by Renato Simoni. It premiered at the Metropolitan Opera on 25 January 1915, conducted by Arturo Toscanini with Geraldine Farrar in the title role. The first silent film adaptation was in 1900, starring Réjane; in 1911 she starred in a remake directed by Henri Desfontaines. The last silent film version was made in 1925, starring Gloria Swanson. Sound versions were made in 1941 by Roger Richebé, starring Arletty, and in 1945 in Argentina, featuring José Maurer. A version starring Sophia Loren was released in 1961. The play was serialised in novel form by Raymond Lepelletier in "Le Radical" and published in 1894 by Librairie illustrée, Paris.