Editing Hamlet (1996 film) (section)

===Main characters===
*[[Kenneth Branagh]] as [[Prince Hamlet]], the story's protagonist and Prince of Denmark. He is the son of the late King Hamlet and heir to the throne of Denmark. At first, Hamlet is depressed about his father's death and is angered by his mother Gertrude's swift remarriage to his uncle Claudius. However, Hamlet is told by the ghost of his father that Claudius murdered him, usurping his throne. Hamlet swears to avenge his father's murder. Branagh described his interpretation of the title role as considerably less "neurotic" than others, removing the [[Oedipus complex|Oedipal fixation]] prominently featured in [[Laurence Olivier]]'s [[Hamlet (1948 film)|1948 film adaptation]], among others. During the scenes in which Hamlet pretends to be insane, Branagh portrayed the Prince as [[Mania|manic]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/hamlet-1996 |title=Hamlet: Review |author=Roger Ebert |date=24 January 1997}}</ref>
*[[Derek Jacobi]] as [[King Claudius]], the play's antagonist and brother of the late king. He murders his brother by pouring poison into his ear while he sleeps. He usurps his brother's title and marries his widow. At first, believing Hamlet to have been driven mad by the loss of his father, Claudius tries to spy on Hamlet. When Claudius learns that Hamlet knows of the murder, he tries to use [[Rosencrantz and Guildenstern]], two of Hamlet's schoolmates, to murder his nephew. Jacobi appeared in the title role in the [[BBC]]'s [[Hamlet (1980 film)|1980 made-for-television version of ''Hamlet'']].
*[[Julie Christie]] as [[Gertrude (Hamlet)|Gertrude]], Queen of Denmark and wife to both the late King Hamlet and King Claudius, whom she swiftly married following the former's death — ignorant of the foul play that caused his death.
*[[Richard Briers]] as [[Polonius]], the Lord Chamberlain. An impertinent busybody, Polonius believes Hamlet to be mad and convinces Claudius to join him in spying on the prince. Hamlet eventually kills him, believing him to be Claudius.
*[[Kate Winslet]] as [[Ophelia]], noblewoman of Denmark and daughter of Polonius. Ophelia is in love with Hamlet until she is advised by her father Polonius and brother Laertes to end their relationship. She is eventually driven mad by both Hamlet's rejection and her father's murder and drowns herself.
*[[Nicholas Farrell]] as [[Horatio (character)|Horatio]], a good friend of Hamlet whom he met while attending [[University of Halle-Wittenberg|Wittenberg University]].
*[[Michael Maloney]] as [[Laertes (Hamlet)|Laertes]], the son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia. After instructing his sister to have no further relations with Hamlet, he departs for Paris. On news of his father's murder, Laertes returns to Denmark, leading a mob to storm the castle. Claudius incites Laertes to kill Hamlet and avenge Polonius's death. He later conspires with Claudius to murder Hamlet during a fencing duel.
*[[Rufus Sewell]] as [[Fortinbras]], the Norwegian crown prince. Played mostly in flashback and frequently referenced throughout the film, Fortinbras storms Elsinore castle with his army during the final scene, and assumes the vacant throne of Denmark.