She said something interesting in the Guardian Shakespeare and Me piece:
click here for article
"Anyone who's ever played Ophelia should all get together for a big group hug. I played Ophelia with John Simm at Sheffield and I suffered terrible insomnia in the same way that Hamlet does. It's such a tough part and Ophelia is a huge leap, especially in the end, when she descends into her madness."
I find this interesting because I am sure that many actresses have suffered playing Ophelia, and it must be a role that changes them as an actress and as a person. It is one thing to read her lines, another thing to speak them aloud, but to have to speak them in a performance and represent the character for an audience -- feeling Ophelia's emotions -- is something entirely different.
I have a great respect for actors and it must be quite a challenge to perform this particular play.
But what I find odd is that I never hear of an actor discussing why Hamlet was written in the first place. Why did Shakespeare write this play? Who was Hamlet? Who is Ophelia? Were they based on real people?
Of course Shakespeare wrote this play for a reason, and he did indeed model Hamlet, Ophelia, Laertes, and all the rest on real people -- many of whom he knew personally. I wrote about this in my adaptation of Hamlet, which not only recreates the play but also tells the story behind the play.
One of the real people whom Shakespeare used as inspiration for Ophelia was Elizabeth Vernon. She had the misfortune of falling in love with the Earl of Southampton and they married without the Queen's permission. For their transgression they were imprisoned, and she miscarried her first child.
If actors started to explore these kinds of stories I think it would enrich the experience for them and for their audience.
I also love that Michelle says that if Shakespeare were alive today, she would ask him out to dinner! Very funny.
Cheers,
David
I am curious: do you know of any actresses other than Michelle Dockery who reported that they "suffered playing Ophelia" as you say?
ReplyDeleteHi Sasha!
DeleteThanks for writing in!
Well, I was referring to Ms. Dockery's comment about all of the Ophelia's getting together for a group hug, but yours is a great question.
I have always thought that actresses must be deeply moved and affected by the role of Ophelia, in the same way that I have heard that actresses are affected if they play Blanche DuBois in Streetcar Named Desire.
I found some information online for you:
Here in Wikipedia it mentions the actress Susan Mountfort who had some sort of psychotic break.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophelia
And I found this interesting site that tries to make the case that there is a curse on actresses who played Ophelia:
http://www.h2g2.com/approved_entry/A51015962
I don't think there is a curse, I just think that actresses can't help but be emotionally transformed by the role, especially if they are on stage -- it must be terribly hard to go through such an emotional descent into madness night after night in front of a crowd.
I hope this answers your question, and I hope you continue to ask me more questions here!
Cheers,
David
Thank you so much. That is very helpful, and it answers my question. (I became depressed during the process of rehearsing as Ophelia, and wanted to know if other actresses experienced anything similar.)
DeleteHi Sasha,
DeleteI'm glad I could answer your question.
I'm glad you know that you are not the only one who has been depressed while performing Ophelia.
It is a very challenging role, and you should be proud that you were cast in such an important part. :-)
Cheers,
David