Cover Branagh with Judi Dench at the 2016 Olivier Awards. He was just 28 years old when he directed and starred in 1989’s 'Henry V'. Before that film’s massive critical and commercial success, Hollywood widely considered Shakespeare adaptations to be "box office poison"—a belief Branagh shattered almost overnight. (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)
Branagh with Judi Dench at the 2016 Olivier Awards. He was just 28 years old when he directed and starred in 1989’s 'Henry V'. Before that film’s massive critical and commercial success, Hollywood widely considered Shakespeare adaptations to be "box office poison"—a belief Branagh shattered almost overnight. (Photo: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)
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With legendary actor and director Kenneth Branagh leading the pack, we look back at the cinematic heavyweights who have taken on the ultimate literary role: William Shakespeare himself
Few filmmakers have championed William Shakespeare with as much devotion as Kenneth Branagh. Whether earning rave reviews on the West End stage in Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard or reintroducing classical drama to modern multiplexes, Branagh has spent his career proving that historical theatre still possesses massive cultural power.
His 1990s screen triumphs—ranging from the raucous energy of Much Ado About Nothing to his ambitious, four-hour vision of Hamlet—shattered the myth that Shakespeare was box-office poison. Yet while Sir Kenneth is rightly celebrated for stepping into the boots of Shakespeare’s most tragic heroes, his turn portraying the playwright himself in 2018's All Is True offers a remarkably intimate highlight in his storied filmography.
Read more: Beyond the stage: 8 Asian films that turn William Shakespeare into cinematic gold
Hollywood has spent decades trying to make the man behind the quill look like a leading man. From period-drama heartthrobs like Joseph Fiennes to chaotic portrayals like Rafe Spall’s imposter, "Will" has become a fascinating cinematic figure in his own right.
Here are our favorite actors who have played Shakespeare, starting with the man of the hour...
Pro-tip: If you're an actress looking for an Oscar, just play William's love interest. Between Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessie Buckley, the role of "Shakespeare's Muse" is officially the luckiest gig in Hollywood.
1. The "Legend" Shakespeare
The Actor: Kenneth Branagh
The Movie: All Is True (2018)
Playing Shakespeare as a… Retired dad that rivals King Lear trying to fix a garden instead of a kingdom
Who plays Anne? The legendary Judi Dench
After spending decades performing and directing the Bard’s greatest works, Kenneth Branagh finally stepped into the shoes of the playwright himself. Portraying a weary, retired "Grandpa Will," Branagh trades theatrical fireworks for quiet contemplation as Shakespeare returns to Stratford-upon-Avon following the burning of the Globe Theatre. Complete with a prosthetic nose that deserves its own IMDb credit, it’s a beautifully intimate look at the author's final act.
Above Kenneth Branagh and Dame Judi Dench’s legendary screen partnership began with 1989’s 'Henry V' (though their creative bond goes back even further to their early West End theatre days). When Branagh cast Dench as Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, in 'All Is True' despite their 26-year real-life age gap, it marked their fifth feature film collaboration—a celebrated partnership that has since grown to seven films and counting.
2. The "Sad Boy" Shakespeare
The Actor: Paul Mescal
The Movie: Hamnet (2025)
Playing Shakespeare as a… Sad, weepy boy that rivals Hamlet himself contemplating a skull in the rain
Who plays Anne? Jessie Buckley (playing Agnes/Anne)
If you thought Paul Mescal peaked in "devastatingly beautiful grief" during Aftersun, think again. In this adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell’s hit novel, Mescal plays a father haunted by the death of his son. It’s less "writing comedies" and more "staring at the English countryside while the score makes you cry."
The Oscar Connection: Jessie Buckley took home the Best Actress Oscar for this role, proving the "Shakespeare Muse" luck is still going strong!
Above While Mescal is now the face of the "Sad Bard," he almost wasn't! He was deep in rehearsals for a stage production of "A Streetcar Named Desire' when he got the call for this film. He’s essentially gone from playing a 20th-century icon (Stanley Kowalski) to the ultimate 16th-century icon in the span of a single awards season.
3. The "Heartthrob" Shakespeare
The Actor: Joseph Fiennes
The Movie: Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Playing Shakespeare as a… Romantic lead that rivals Romeo under a balcony with significantly more chest hair and eyelashes we all dream to have
Who plays Anne? Anne is back in Stratford; Will is busy wooing Gwyneth Paltrow (as Viola de Lesseps)
This is the movie that convinced a generation of Millennials that Shakespeare was a total babe with a leather jacket and serious writer's block. He spends half the movie running through 16th-century London and the other half inventing the most famous plays in history as "inside jokes" for his girlfriend.
The Oscar Connection: Gwyneth Paltrow famously won Best Actress for this, and Judi Dench won Best Supporting Actress for her 8-minute cameo as Queen Elizabeth I.
Above This role was almost a total "What If?" for Hollywood history. Before Joseph Fiennes was cast, Julia Roberts was set to play the lead role—but she famously insisted that the only person who could play her Shakespeare was Daniel Day-Lewis. When he turned it down, the project actually collapsed for several years until Fiennes and Paltrow eventually saved it.
4. The "Imposter" Shakespeare
The Actor: Rafe Spall
The Movie: Anonymous (2011)
Playing Shakespeare as a… Drunken fraud that rivals a chaotic TikTok influencer taking credit for a viral sound
Who plays Anne? This movie skips the wife and focuses on the "real" author, the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans)
In this wild "conspiracy theory" flick, Shakespeare isn't a genius—he’s a semi-literate, loud-mouthed actor who blackmails the actual writer to get his name on the posters. Rafe Spall plays him with delightful, messy energy. It’s the ultimate "fake it 'til you make it" performance.
Read more: Brutus is just as cute as Caesar! Did you know that these 5 movies are inspired by Shakespeare?
Above Director Roland Emmerich is known for blowing up the White House in 'Independence Day', so it makes sense that his take on Shakespeare was an "explosive" conspiracy theory. To play this illiterate, drunken version of Will, Rafe Spall reportedly leaned into the "rockstar" excess of the London stage, treating the Globe like a chaotic dive bar.
5. The "Relatable" Shakespeare
The Actor: David Mitchell
The Show: Upstart Crow (2016–2020)
Playing Shakespeare as a… Stressed-out middle manager that rivals Malvolio on a very bad "yellow stockings" day
Who plays Anne? Liza Tarbuck
Ever wonder if Shakespeare complained about the high cost of London rentals or the annoying commute on the stagecoach? David Mitchell plays Will as a fussy, brilliant, and slightly arrogant writer just trying to balance his "genius" status with a chaotic family life. It’s basically The Office, but with parchment.
Above This show was written by Ben Elton, the comedy genius behind 'Blackadder'. One of the best running gags is that Will is constantly "inventing" famous phrases that we use today—only for his family to tell him they’re "a bit wordy" and will never catch on.
6. The "Rockstar" Shakespeare
The Actor: Laurie Davidson
The Show: Will (2017)
Playing Shakespeare as a… Punk-rock poet that rivals a young Orsino at a Coachella afterparty
Who plays Anne? Maya Arad-Yasur
If you like your history with a side of glitter and a synth-pop soundtrack, this is for you. This version of Will arrives in London with big dreams and has a "main character" complex. It’s vibrant, loud, and treats the Globe Theatre like a mosh pit.
Above This was Laurie Davidson’s first-ever professional role after graduating from drama school. He beat out hundreds of actors for the part of the "Rockstar Will" because the directors felt he had the "electric" energy of a modern-day musician arriving in the big city for the first time.
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Karen Vera is the regional content director for Tatler Asia. Having led editorial strategy across Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila, Jakarta, and Shanghai throughout her career, she is a devoted culture vulture whose favorite party trick is naming every Oscar Best Picture winner from 1972 onwards. (Annie Hall won in 1977, by the way.)
