The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays, which is saying something. It is widely considered to be the most powerful and influential tragedies, and is a landmark in English literature.
The play depicts Prince Hamlet who plots revenge on his Uncle Claudius for murdering his father the King, succeeding to the throne and marrying his mother. Hamlet himself is a mad character, due partly to bereavement and rage. Psychoanalytical critics and scholars examine how Hamlet’s unconscious desires drive his actions and the plot. With strong themes of insanity, moral corruption, and revenge, the play has inspired writers from the 17th century up to today.
The role of Hamlet is awarded only to the best and most renowned actors. Recently is has been announced that British actor Benedict Cumberbatch will be playing the role at London’s Barbican Theatre August through October of 2015. While we think that is a wonderful decision, it of course has made us stop and think of what other actors we would like to see fill the role. Hamlet is universally believed to have been thirty, but there is a counter argument that he could be 16, so he is usually played by actors between the ages of 16 and 30. While some of our choices may be a bit older than that, we are taking mostly talent and experience into consideration for our topic picks.
Now, without further ado, our top 10 actors for Hamlet!
Did your favorite actor not make the list? Tell us in the comments below!