King Ahasuerus promoted Haman's popularity, after Esther was picked as the Babylonian queen, replacing Vashti, not before. Her Jewish name is Hadassah and Esther is her Babylonian name. Evidence: Holy Bible, Old Testament book, Esther, Chapters 2 and 3.
First scene where Esther greets Mordecai and then is ushered off ,F Murray Abraham is smoking a cig.