Ophelia
Ophelia is a character in Hamlet. She is a young noblewoman of Denmark, the daughter of Polonius, sister of Laertes, and potential wife of Prince Hamlet. As one of the few female characters in the play, she is used as a contrasting plot device to Hamlet's mother, Gertrude.
Famous stage and movie portrayals
Cultural references
Ophelia is a popular protagonist in modern remakes of Hamlet, particularly those aimed at a Young Adult audience. Young Adult adaptations include Lisa Klein's Ophelia, which reworks the story of a forbidden love between Ophelia and Prince Hamlet from the young woman's perspective.
Other media
The Folger has a wide array of visual depictions of Ophelia, who has long been a popular subject for artists.
Hear the cast and crew of Folger Theatre's 2010 production of Hamlet discuss Ophelia and madness.