| Rosalind | |
|---|---|
Rosalind by Robert Walker Macbeth |
|
| Creator | William Shakespeare |
| Play | As You Like It |
| Family | Orlando (husband) Duke Senior (father) Celia (cousin) |
| Role | Protagonist |
Rosalind is a fictional character and the romantic female lead in the comedy As You Like It (1600?) by William Shakespeare.
She is the daughter of the exiled Duke Senior and niece to his usurping brother Duke Frederick. After angering her uncle, she leaves his court for exile in the Forest of Arden. There, she lives disguised as a shepherd with her devoted cousin, Celia and her uncle's fool Touchstone. Eventually, Rosalind is reunited with her father and is married to her faithful lover, Orlando.
Rosalind is definitely one of Shakespeare's most recognized heroines. Admired for her intelligence, quick wit, and beauty, Rosalind is a vital character in "As You Like It." Most commonly seen next to her beloved cousin Celia, Rosalind is also a faithful friend, leader, and schemer. She stays true to her family and friends throughout the entire story, no matter how dangerous the consequences. Rosalind dominates the stage. Her true decision-making skills can be seen in the last act of Scene V where she has to present herself as Rosalind to her father and to Orlando, but at the same time change Phebe's opinion to marry Silvius.
Rosalind has been played by various notable actresses including Elizabeth Bergner in a 1936 film opposite Laurence Olivier as Orlando,[1] Helena Bonham Carter in the 2000 BBC Radio 4 version, Helen Mirren in the 1978 BBC version of the play directed by Basil Coleman,[2] and Bryce Dallas Howard in the 2006 production directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Acclaimed Tony Award-winning American actress Patti LuPone played the role at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, after her award-winning portrayal of Eva Peron in the original Broadway run of Evita. This caused much speculation because LuPone was leaving the Broadway stage and moving to "regional" work.
Adrian Lester won a Time Out Award for his performance as Rosalind in Cheek by Jowl's 1991 production of As You Like It. A male actor in the role (as would have been the norm in Shakespeare's time) underlines the confusion of gender roles within the play: at one point, a male actor is playing a woman who is pretending to be a man acting the part of a woman.