Jude Law on Hamlet : taken from Shakespeare on stage: thirteen leading actors on thirteen key roles

In each volume of the Shakespeare on Stage series, a leading actor takes us behind the scenes, recreating in detail a memorable performance in one of Shakespeare's major roles. They discuss their character, working through the play scene by scene, with refreshing candour and in forensic detail. The result is a masterclass on playing the role, invaluable for other actors and directors, as well as students of Shakespeare – and fascinating for audiences of the play. In this volume, Jude Law discusses playing the title role in Hamlet in Michael Grandage's 2009 production, a 'palpable hit' in the West End and on Broadway. This interview, together with the others in the series (with actors such as Judi Dench, Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart), is also available in the collection Shakespeare on Stage: Thirteen Leading Actors on Thirteen Key Roles by Julian Curry, with a foreword by Trevor Nunn. 'absorbing and original... Curry's actors are often thinking and talking as that other professional performer, Shakespeare himself, might have done' TLS Thirteen leading actors take us behind the scenes, each recreating in detail a memorable performance in one of Shakespeare's major roles. - Brian Cox on Titus Andronicus in Deborah Warner's visceral RSC production - Judi Dench on being directed by Franco Zeffirelli as a twenty-three-year-old Juliet - Ralph Fiennes on Shakespeare's least sympathetic hero Coriolanus - Rebecca Hall on Rosalind in As You Like It, directed by her father, Sir Peter - Derek Jacobi on his hilariously poker-backed Malvolio for Michael Grandage - Jude Law on his Hamlet, a palpable hit in the West End and on Broadway - Adrian Lester on a modern-dress Henry V at the National, during the invasion of Iraq - Ian McKellen on his Macbeth, opposite Judi Dench in Trevor Nunn's RSC production - Helen Mirren on a role she was born for, and has played three times: Cleopatra - Tim Pigott-Smith on Leontes in Peter Hall's Restoration Winter's Tale at the National - Kevin Spacey on his high-tech, modern-dress Richard II - Patrick Stewart on Prospero in Rupert Goold's arctic Tempest for the RSC - Penelope Wilton on Isabella in Jonathan Miller's'chamber'Measure for Measure The actors discuss their characters, working through the play scene by scene, with refreshing candour and in forensic detail. The result is a masterclass on playing each role, invaluable for other actors and directors, as well as students of Shakespeare - and fascinating for audiences of the plays. Together, the interviews give one of the most comprehensive pictures yet of these characters in performance, and of the choices that these great actors have made in bringing them thrillingly to life. Each interview is also available as an individual ebook as part of the Shakespeare on Stage series.'These passages of times remembered contribute vividly to the sense of a teemingly creative period when Shakespeare seemed to have been rediscovered.'Trevor Nunn, from his Foreword'absorbing and original... Curry's actors are often thinking and talking as that other professional performer, Shakespeare himself, might have done'TLS This Title Features Enlightening, In-depth Interviews With 13 Star Actors On Performing Shakespeare's Greatest Characters. Brian Cox On Titus Andronicus -- Judi Dench On Juliet -- Ralph Fiennes On Coriolanus -- Rebecca Hall On Rosalind -- Derek Jacobi On Malvolio -- Jude Law On Hamlet -- Adrian Lester On Henry V -- Ian Mckellen On Macbeth -- Helen Mirren On Cleopatra -- Tim Piggott-smith On Leontes -- Kevin Spacey On Richard Ii -- Patrick Stewart On Prospero -- Penelope Wilton On Isabella -- Synopses Of The Plays. Julian Curry ; Foreward By Trevor Nunn. Unrivalled insights into playing Shakespeare's major characters, from an extraordinary roll-call of star actors. Includes stories from Brian Cox, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Rebecca Hall, Derek Jacobi, Jude Law, Adrian Lester, Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, Tim Pigott-Smith, Kevin Spacey, Patrick Stewart, and Penelope Wilton.