From ‘Hamnet’ to ‘Will,’ Ranking the 10 Hottest William Shakespeare Performances
Hear ye, hear ye! We have gathered ye peasants to help us decide: Who shall be crowned the sexiest William Shakespeare performance?
Look, there’s no doubt that William Shakespeare was an incredible writer. And don’t fob us off with Romeo and Juliet — we’re talking deep cuts. The bleakness and nihilism of King Lear? The complex explorations of prejudice and justice in The Merchant of Venice? The masterful portrayal of “otherness” and racial prejudice in Othello, centuries ahead of its time? Oh, and let’s be real… Hamlet would’ve scored on Hinge and caused many to experience the “Fate of Ophelia.”
Your girl knows her Shakespeare, and in the pursuit of lexical enlightenment, she hath watched every portrayal of the man himself. Every film featuring William Shakespeare — comedy or drama, incestuous or insidious — so we could rank the hottest portrayals of Shakespeare in film and TV. All the world’s a stage… and these stages look infinitely better with ol’ Bill on them.
10. David Mitchell, Upstart Crow
As part of the BBC Shakespeare Festival 2016, the BBC commissioned a satirical sitcom all about good ol’ Willy Shakespeare. It explored how friends, family, historical circumstances, and his arch-rival Robert Greene — who first coined the derogatory term “upstart crow” — influenced Shakespeare to write his famous plays.
The show was funny in the smart-yet-simple way the BBC usually nails, but let’s just say it focused more on Shakespeare’s friendships than his heartthrob potential. We definitely had more eye for dumb Romeo with the pearl earring than brilliant Bill. That said, it’s worth noting that David Mitchell’s costume is probably a more realistic portrayal of Shakespeare than many others on this list.
9. Rupert Graves, A Waste of Shame
This 90-minute television drama explores the circumstances surrounding William Shakespeare’s composition of his sonnets. It takes its title from the first line of Sonnet 129, and many hardcore Shakespeare fans were furious at some of the insinuations in the film… ruh roh.
You know, this might be the most realistic William Shakespeare performance on our list. He’s rocking a frilly dog collar, dark and serious clothing, a brown bob that lowkey slays, and a comb over that makes us hate English class all over again. We’ll also note that we appreciate seeing the saucier side of Shakespeare. However, it’s not standing against the competition, which is stiffer than Shakespeare’s collar. Sorry, not sorry, but this Shakespeare can stay in history.
And William Herbert? Played by Tom Sturridge? He can stick around. We are very much fans of this naughty minx.
8. Kenneth Branagh, All Is True
All Is True takes its title from an alternative name for Shakespeare’s play Henry VIII, and Kenneth Branagh both directed and starred in it.
The story takes us back to 1613. After a massive fire destroys the famous Globe Theatre, William Shakespeare returns to Stratford. However, his wife and daughters aren’t exactly thrilled to see him. The film hits harder than you might expect, with plenty of revelations that would make historians roll their eyes, but it’s still quite the ride.
Here, we see Shakespeare at 49, which obviously plays a part when comparing him to the younger hotties who have also tackled the role. Still, we can appreciate a mature William Shakespeare performance. The moustache and beard are kept tidy, which we approve of… though he’s a bit whiny for our liking.
7. Colin Firth, Blackadder Back & Forth
Look, we acknowledge the audacity of including this science fiction comedy short, which is actually based on a BBC period sitcom, on our list of the hottest William Shakespeares in TV and film. But when brainy Bill is played by Colin Firth — aka Mr. Darcy — we simply have no choice but to carve out a spot for him.
At a New Millennium Eve party, Blackadder and Baldrick test their new time machine and ping-pong through history, encountering famous characters and changing events rather alarmingly.
In this star-studded cast — Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean to you plebs), Hugh Laurie, Kate Moss, and more — Firth had minimal screen time to make his mark as Shakespeare. Have no fear, he succeeded. Black outfit, white collar, brunette locks, and a frown that would make Mark Darcy proud. He’s so clumsy, it’s adorable, even with that pointy beard. Firth is our forever literary DILF.
6. Mathew Baynton, Bill
Bill is set during Shakespeare’s “lost years,” that mysterious period long debated by scholars, covering his rise from obscurity in Stratford-upon-Avon to fame as a London playwright. The film comes from the principal performers behind Horrible Histories, Yonderland, and a BBC adaptation.
It feels necessary to clarify: This is mainly a children’s film. But since William Shakespeare is played by an adult man — aka Mathew Baynton — we feel it’s perfectly acceptable to comment on his hotness. And Bill… he is hot. Sure, there are the poofy shorts (to each their own), but otherwise, we’re fully on board. Dark beard grazing his jaw, Justin Bieber–style side parting, camel-brown clothing, and big, poofy white sleeves that might just slip into your dinner… we don’t hate it!
5. Rafe Spall, Anonymous
Now we get to a very controversial portrayal of William Shakespeare, one that will make literature nerds lose their minds. Anonymous (2011) is a period drama that leans into the theory that Shakespeare didn’t actually write his own works. Uh oh. Instead, the film follows the life of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford — Elizabethan courtier, playwright, poet, and arts patron — and suggests he was the true author behind the Bard’s masterpieces.
It’s… a choice. And, honestly, filled with lots of other strange, strange choices. But we’re not here to debate the artistic liberties of Anonymous. We’re here to judge if Shakespeare is a hunk in this film.
Played by Rafe Spall, Shakespeare here is very different from the other performances on this list. He’s a drunk oaf, an actor who insists he wrote the great plays. Despite being a rake and literal blackmailer, he’s not bad on the eyes. We’re here for that bad-boy energy: white shirt hanging open, curls, a scruffy beard… we could fix him.
4. Dean Lennox Kelly, Doctor Who episode "The Shakespeare Code"
Once again, we’re being cheeky, but take one look at Dean Lennox Kelly’s William Shakespeare, and tell us you wouldn’t do the same! During David Tennant’s long tenure as the Doctor came the unforgettable Shakespeare episode.
Basically, they travel back to save the literary legend. In Elizabethan England, Shakespeare is under the control of witch-like creatures. Thank goodness they rescue him because what a tragedy it would have been to miss out on this hunky Bard. Black jacket over a pirate-style white shirt, blondish beard and curls, and a piercing gaze… it’s giving rogue energy, more Mercutio than Romeo, and honestly? We’ll gladly take it.
3. Laurie Davidson, Will
This short-lived series (sob) follows a young Will Shakespeare, a glove-maker trying his hand at playwriting in London, filled with intrigue, sex, torture, murder… and more sex. With a rock-star metaphor and a punk rock–heavy soundtrack, the series gives Elizabethan London a modern edge while still keeping a finger on historical accuracy.
This William Shakespeare performance is so Timothée Chalamet-coded — iykyk. Historians may frown at the liberties taken, but we’re totally fine with it when it looks this good. Laurie Davidson, fresh out of drama school and portraying the man he had spent years studying, brought serious swagger and audacity to the role — and we are here for it.
2. Joseph Fiennes, Shakespeare in Love
Another day, another hot William Shakespeare performance to lust over. This time it’s Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love, and honestly, this film is something we could never tire of.
For thee mortals who may have missed the glory of Gwyneth’s charmingly flawed British accent: William Shakespeare is on the hunt for a muse to inspire his writing. Enter Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow), a theater lover who fits the part perfectly… except she’s promised in marriage to Lord Wessex (Colin Firth).
And then, because why not, throw in Ben Affleck (why???) and Judi Dench for even more vibes. The budget was big, and clearly, they wanted to spend it.
Fiennes here rocks one of the few Shakespeare looks with short hair, as he tends to have long and luscious locks. This time, he’s sporting short dark hair, paired with a very trimmed brown beard. Those intense, slightly eyeliner-y eyes? Tortured artist vibes, 100%. Add a black jacket (maybe leather?) and an off-white frilled shirt, open just enough to hint at dark chest hair… okay, we might need a minute.
1. Paul Mescal, Hamnet
It’ll come as no surprise to anyone who’s seen Normal People, but Paul Mescal is snatching first place once again. And honestly, we’d be mad about it if he weren’t so ridiculously attractive. Maggie O’Farrell adapted her own novel Hamnet for the screen, and then Chloé Zhao stepped in to direct. The result? A film made entirely for the female gaze.
The largely fictionalized story explores the marriage of Anne Hathaway (renamed Agnes Hathaway in the novel and film to avoid confusion with The Princess Diaries actress) and William Shakespeare, focusing on how the devastating death of their 11-year-old son, Hamnet, tears them apart. It also shows how this tragedy influenced the writing of Hamlet.
Mescal is the tortured Shakespeare we can easily imagine penning a play as devastating and profound as Hamlet. But here, he’s not just the successful writer, he’s the family man, the grieving father, the husband struggling to bridge the distance. And just like our main girl Taylor Swift, we simply cannot resist a tortured poet.
