Adrian Lester as Hamlet: ‘To be or not to be’ | Shakespeare Solos 

This is one of my all-time favorite performances of this soliloquy. Adrian Lester's world-weary interpretation is pitch-perfect.

To finally see a version where Hamlet is exhausted instead of impassioned is refreshing. Actors get so into "it's the most famous soliloquy of all time!" part and overact it and give him so much energy when he's literally contemplating suicide. He's not impassioned, he's *empty*

Yep, the best in my humble opinion. He is engaged in this dialogue with himself, which is what the moment is about. It’s not an actor presenting questions to an audience, but a potent, eminent of fatality, conversation with oneself about whether life is worth living when life is in despair.

Wow, this interpretation makes me feel exhausted FOR Hamlet. No wonder he can't choose a course of action; he's so drained from everything that he can barely do anything at all! Usually the vigor in Hamlet interpretations makes me frustrated (oh my god stop running around and stab the uncle already!) but this one makes me empathize with Hamlet SO MUCH MORE.

This is the Shakespeare I like, not over acted with arms outstretched etc, just, real.

I love that he adds an air of emotional exhaustion in the soliloquy. I feel that when Hamlet reached this point, he was at the end of his rope. He was physically and emotionally drained by this experience.

A well-trained actor at the top of his game making Shakespeare come alive. That's why we're still watching his plays all these centuries later, and why actors want to speak those words.

This is a shining example that Shakespearean text doesn't need anything else than just internal truth. No hand gestures or exaggerated movements. The subtler, the better imo.

This, hands down, was the best interpretation of this passage I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

Wonderful. This fine actor does more than tell a story . He draws us into the tormented mind of Hamlet. What we experience is a closeness to his despair. Two quality artists reminding us of the extraordinary power of British Theatre..

This made me tear up a little! Beautifully acted. Truly brings out the tiredness that Hamlet feels.

Everyone knows the speech is about thinking about suicide, but by the end of it he has actually decided against it- Though he admits it is cowardly, he basically says at the end that thinking about it has changed his mind- his thoughts on the matter have become "sicklier with a pale cast of thought" and the idea of suicide, with great pitch and thought, turned awry. He wants to. He just can't bring himself to do it, he's afraid.

This is the best I have heard... no artificial rhythm, yet with passion. He is believable as a man considering the end of his life. Bravo!

Love the subtle nuances he brings to the soliloquy. He begins with a quiet monotone that gradually intensifies, but never goes to the scene chewing too many actors fall prey to. You really feel Hamlet's weariness, grief and despair.

This rendition is beautiful. It's so calming to listen to, while watching a real representation of what Shakespeare is.

The pause between 'the' and 'undiscovered country' gave me chills a bit. I've done and seen this piece so many times and it's always different which is what's so great about Shakespeare

For some reason the RU-vid AI sent me this video. Thank you! I've been a huge fan of Shakespeare since I was a child, raised by a learned grandfather who would read these famous passages to me. Hamlet has always been one of my favorites. I love this interpretation. Most often this speech is given with a touch (or more) of madness. But this- this performance is pure mental exhaustion portrayed with a very rare level of artistry... Well done...

Unbelievable acting, great to see the Hamlet community coming together and showing love

There is such depth and life in his eyes and yet he focuses such death through them he could communicate the meaning of these powerful words without even the words themselves. Amazing! And this just makes me want to see the full Adrian Lester Hamlet! Anybody else?

This is absolutely one of my favourite interpretations! The monotony at the beginning really helps build up Hamlet's assessment of life. Fantastic!!

This is an excellent rendition, the eyes.

I would love to see a full production of Hamlet starring this man.

"I would end my misery this very moment without the slightest fear of pain, death, or decay if I were not such a Goddamn coward." The Bard sums up my daily existence in three minutes nearly 400 years before I was born. This was also the most brilliant piece of acting I have ever seen. Period.

I think this is the best version of the speech I've ever encountered. Beautiful tone and so much emotion... Wonderful.

This is by far the best rendition I've seen. Very matter-of-fact, very natural, and very touching. He actually captures Hamlet's despair and -quite frankly- exhaustion. He doesn't overact, which is just wonderful. And the eyes.... Bravo.

The intimacy of the performance and the emotion of the facial expressions really sells this performance home to me.

I like this actors quiet posing. He takes us to where the audience would wish to go, not held with bodily flamboyance but wistfully done with the intricacies of guilt and regret that weaves this piece.

One of the best performances I have seen of this very difficult monologue. Tremendous work.

Not going to lie, hated it at the beginning, but by "aye, there's the rub" he had me. Like putty in his hands. There's something about the way his expression shifts, like he's shifted focus to a point beyond the 4th wall...behind the audience...

Hey this made me feel less suicidal, so thanks for uploading. I was going to go down to the train station and sit on the tracks, but then I kept pausing and thinking about what he could mean. Hamlet still presents it as a question, to be or not to be is followed up with arguments from both sides. Thinking through each thing he says, elaborating on what he could see in his To Be arguments. Actually super helpful if you're even a little still on the fence about weather to be or...not.

The first performance of this most well-trod speech that made me *understand* it. It only took me forty years.

Me over here listening to this on repeat in order to memorize this for my English class...

Precisely how this scene plays in my head. Absolutely brilliant.

Absolutely stunning. How he managed to make it his own, made me hear it in a completely different way, as if for the first time. I adored this ❤️

What a wonderful way of delivery. Simple, elegant yet so truly performed from the heart. Adrian Lester is not an actor, but a performer who lives every moment.

Beautifully timed - a certain pause , a methodical rhythmic restraint - music and solace of the voice to the mind seeping into the soul as a salve .

I love the acting of Adrian Lester since I've seen him in the Primary Colors!..

Amazing actor. I've seen dozens of people perform this scene, but his eyes makes me truly believe what he is contemplating.

Damn that delivery is perfect.

beautiful beyond words

Wonderful performance, one of the best for me .

Absolutely superb.

Arguably the best presentation of Hamlet's soliloquy I have seen. Except possibly Kenneth Branagh. Truly powerful and moving.

Have had my edge on this man ever since he spoke badly about actors who haven't attended a 'drama school'... This does not excuse or eradicate, but it is an excellent (IMHO) and painfully slight and beautiful incarnation of Hamlet at this time in his life. Well done and thank you Sir.

This is the best I have ever seen. Bravo!

Absolutely beautiful.

This has a whole new meaning when you're actually contemplating suicide...

Most do not understand what this is saying, but still find it captivating. It's even more beautiful when you understand it. Thank you English Literature A-level.

This is so soul touching. Wow

This is by far my favourite interpretation of Hamlet.

This captured me wholeheartedly i only knew of Adrian from Hustle but finding this wonderful performance through a university lecture has shown me how amazing of an actor he is! i don't know much about Shakespeare but honestly this makes me want to learn the speach!

Some criticize the metaphor "take arms against a sea" - but the attack by the Spanish Armada on England was only ten years old when Hamlet began to be written.

Thank you!

Truly brilliant!

He's made me rethink my way reciting it, that's for sure.

yess guardian adrian lester is amazing

Such a Special performance! 🌷🌷

You just close your eyes with this and just absorb what he is saying.... ahhh so perfect

At first I figured this was going to be just another "To be or not to be" monologue, but wow, I wasn't expecting such a moving performance; the close-up camera coupled with the delivery of "to be... or not to be" seems to be pretty standard. I love the way I saw it performed by Shakespeare in Performance. Their Hamlet sang part of the monologue, and he has a fantastic voice. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-q6CLdCl9TB0.html (if you want to see it performed in the context of the play, you can head over to their Facebook page at facebook.com/TravisCurtright/ and check the "Videos" tab to see the full show!)

Simply amazing!

This is my favourite version

Adrian...you have taken this and made it your own nice Job 😊

beautiful because of thy cryptic message thus most do not yet understand, but I understand completely

The. Best reading of Hamlet I have ever heard.

Goosebumps!

Basically the monologue inspiration for the Damien Hirst art installation "The physical impossibility of death in the mind of someone living" 🦈

Ooooooo givin me chills dude!

I haven’t studied Shakespeare so I’m probably the least qualified person to discuss performance but for me at least, this is the best rendition of this monologue I have ever seen, the second being Kenneth Branagh‘ Arron the ‘96 movie. They approach it differently, with Branagh having a sense of confidence as he contemplates life and death, you get the feeling that he has the upper hand and exhumes a sense of power as he articulates his emotions to himself. Here, however, Lester seems so tired as if he’s been totally filled by the monotonous repetition in the emotions of life, that his eyes sag and dehumanize him. Imagine this monologue combined with the inward panning camerawork of the movie or even a distorting zoom. Beautiful interpretation.

Love the camera work and lighting here - I wonder hat they use.

Adrian Lester,one of my favourite actors.

Really great performance💗

Brilliant interpretation!!!!

Perfect!

Amazing how beautiful language is in the confines of unbridled rage and infinite grief.

Shakespeare would be proud

Bravo!

Adrian really brings the serious energy and empty mood in the mind and behaviour of hamlet in this memorable scene

Beautiful 👏👏👏

This is Hamlet's soliloquy delivered the right way. Just as Macbeth's Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, it is induced by immense fatigue of life, by absolute hopelessness. Hamlet does not have the energy to have emotions anymore, his mind just keeps on thinking because that's what it's used to doing, but there is no hope or emotional energy, only the cold firing of neurons.

Saw a young David Warner play Hamlet in 1965. Best I have seen to date.

I like it, I can't take those screaming lunatics twisting and spitting on their chins from excitement. This is suppose to be an inner monologue of a tormented prince who have power to act on his meditations; he is suppose to be collected, melancholic, and of strong will. This is the Hamlet who knows classical thought of Greeks, and weight reason higher than whim.

My favourite of all 6.

Absolutely perfect.

while looking at him and listening to him while reading the lines... I feel dread and anxiety like he was talking directly at me... this is also that of act i like the most

I get that people love this version of the monologue compared to other actors takes. But what you may not realize is that there’s a big difference being right in front of the camera compared to being live onstage. You’re supposed to do a bit of exaggeration when on stage so the audience can actually see and hear the expression used. Not denoting this version at all, in fact I loved the acting. Just thought I’d share this.

Così si recita! Che grandissimo attore! Grazie

Entrancing. Brilliant

Lovely!

Brillante!!!!!

Fabulous !

Super!

Yea this is absolutely haunting. Well done man!

Beautiful, just beautiful. 💕💕💕

I would like more please. This is my new asmr.

Quite the finest delivery of this soliloquy that l can recall. This is not a collection of famous phrases declaimed to the whole world, but a man in weary self conversation. Wonderful.

Sublime

this is great.... i don't know how to explain my feelings.

@IainRobb I've played the moor in Titus Andronicus and I am white. I've also seen a production of Othello where he was white and the rest of the cast was black. Completely believable and brilliant productions. Also... where in the script does it say Hamlet is white? And more importantly... why does it matter?

amazing

powerful