Kenneth Branagh was only fifteen when he saw Hamlet for the first time and he yearned to film it seven years prior to starting Hamlet. "I was completely struck by the power of the play," recalls Branagh. "It even seemed to affect me physically, I had the shakes. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I was astonished by what a terrific thriller it was. It had everything - murder, violence, intrigue, passion, a ghost - and I experienced a part of what made HAMLET so profoundly exciting and powerful. It was utterly compelling.

The Cast

Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet	Kate Winslet as Ophelia	Derek Jacobi as Claudius	Julie Christie as Gertrude	Robin Williams as Osric
Billy Crystal as First Gravedigger	Rufus Sewell as Prince Fortinbras	Gerard Depardieu as Reynaldo	Charleton Heston as Player King	Jack Lemmon as Marcellus

Kenneth Branagh was very particular about the actors/actresses he cast in the movie. He wanted the best of the best to do the film justice. Due to his internation recognition he was able to pick the best of both sides of the Atlanic.

Branagh: "When I first met Kate, I thought she was 29. After the meeting the casting director told me she was 17. She has a very old head on young shoulders, which is currently keeping her sane in the midst of extraordinary success. My first and lasting impression was of having met a real 'natural', a genuine star. I think she'll cope."

Kate was shocked when she was asked to play the role of Ophelia. "I was asked to play Ophelia, having not even read the script or met with Ken or anything.... There's this phone call 'Ophelia's been offered to you' and I just went what. You know I couldn't believe it. I was completely over the moon and I spoke to Ken that evening and I just said I can't. I can't do it. I can't do it. I want to but I can't. And he said don't be so stupid course you can. And I said yes but it's Shakespeare and he said what do you mean? That means nothing."

Kate On Ophelia

Kate had very strong views about Ophelia. "We have become used to seeing her as a whimsical, floaty female time and again. When I started to talk it over with Ken Branagh we discovered we were both on the same wavelength. As soon as you abandon all irrational fears of not being able to understand her you are 50% of the way there. And everyone was nervous and in the same boat - from Ken to Billy Crystal to Gerard Depardieu - so it made for a very team-spirited atmosphere."

A Feat to be Proud Of

One of Winslet's lesser coups is to have got on well with Emma Thompson and now with Branagh. She speaks warmly of him, in the usual way ("Incredible...amazing..life-enhancing"), but also a more precise point: "There is nothing canny or clever about Ken. He doesn't play director games, he never makes you feel stupid". This sounded like an oblique reference to Ang Lee, who made his cast write essays on their characters, marked them and famously said to Winslet after her first day's work, "You'll get better." Winslet didn't have to write an essay on Ophelia, which is a shame because her take on the character is inimitably Winslettian.

"I hope I've made her strong, I really hope so. If you think about Ophelia, she's this girl who's never had a strong female presence in her life. And she's in that funny transition period, going from her teenage years into really becoming a woman. She's having this pretty full-on relationship with Hamlet, but she always seems to be suffering. She's the victim of everything, of everybody, this little floaty thing that's just sort of dancing about. She's hung on to herself and been terribly lonely. There's her brother whom she loves and he's buggered off to France to have a lovely life thank you very much. And her father Polonius--you know, stuffy old git who's trying to keep her wrapped up in cotton wool--has just been promoted to Prime Minister. And with her lover Hamlet, she's going through this awful time because he doesn't know what the hell's going on, and seems daft and you know that she's going to go mad from the minute you see her. So I thought no way, that's been done before, people are going to get bored. So I just tried to reverse the situation and give her a purpose."

Personal Thoughts

Hamlet is an amazing movie. It is best watched with a copy of the Hamlet Screenplay in front of you. It is very helpful to be able to glance at text while watching the film. If one sitting is too long simply watch it in Acts instead. This will help you to appreciate the film rather than dreading the long sitting time.

Kate Winslet's performance as Ophelia is amazing to watch. Kate's Ophelia is the best I've yet scene. She is able to reveal so much more than previous performances through the use of her great acting ability. I think you'll love it, though, you might, as I did, wish to fast forward simply to see her again. She is breathtaking!

Hamlet Merchandise

Hamlet Soundtrack by Patrick Doyle	Hamlet by Kenneth Branagh	Hamlet Special Edition (VHS)
The Hamlet Soundtrack is a beautiful score by Patrick Doyle. Which "never loses sight of Hamlet's continuing search for peace" and includes a track by Placido Domingo.	The Hamlet book, a companion volume to the movie, containing his screenplay, his diary on the set, and color and black-and-white photographs. A great addition for any collection!	The Hamlet VHS cassette is sold in the U.K, in America, and in Germany. There are whispers of a DVD release, but none yet. The German and UK releases are the cut version. The full version appears to not be offered.
Hamlet - Kate Winslet 10x8 B/W Glossy Photo Buy this B/W Glossy Photo at Art.com

Cast
As listed at the IMDB