Editor's Choice

Which real-life celebrities relate to the characters in Romeo and Juliet?

Quick answer:

The question asks which real-life celebrities relate to characters in Romeo and Juliet, interpreted as which celebrities could effectively portray these characters. For Juliet, Jennifer Lawrence is suggested due to her ability to convey deep emotions and a tragic end, while Romeo could be portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, who combines good looks with a sensitive demeanor. Tybalt might be represented by Wentworth Miller, known for his brooding roles. Other suggestions include Charlize Theron and Kiefer Sutherland as the Capulets and Xander Berkeley as the friar, each chosen for their ability to fit the psychological and physical profiles of the characters they would play.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

That's a big list of characters, and several of them are incredibly minor characters with only a few speaking lines.  I'll provide celebrities and some explanation to go along with the more central characters in Romeo and Juliet.  Additionally, I'm not sure what exactly "relate" means in relation to the question.  It could be asking which celebrity is like that character in real life (physically, emotionally, socially, etc.), or it could be asking which celebrity could effectively play that role.  I'll use the second option. 

Let's start with Juliet.  She's going to be tough to find a celebrity for because of her age.  Juliet is young, and most celebrities aren't huge celebrities by the age of 13.  We know that she is 13 because Paris asks for Capulet's permission to marry her, and Capulet initially asks Paris to wait until she's older.  You could go with Dafne Keen from the 2017 film Logan.  She's 12 now, which puts her really close to Juliet's age.  A better celebrity choice is going to be somebody that audiences will immediately "see" as somebody capable of falling in love, having an emotional roller coaster, and selling a suicide.  Right now, the best choice is probably Jennifer Lawrence.

Romeo is a bit easier to cast.  We don't know how old he is, but he is likely a little bit older than Juliet.  He needs to be fairly good looking because audiences need to believe that Juliet could really fall in love with him at first sight.  If I'm allowed to pick any celebrity from any decade, I would go with James Dean.  That guy has "cool" oozing out of his skin. From current celebrities that are instantly recognizable and generally liked by audiences, I would go with Daniel Radcliffe or Josh Hutcherson.  The former would probably be better because while Romeo needs to be good looking, he also needs to come across as sensitive and emotional as that is how we are introduced to him in the play; he's complaining about lost love.

Tybalt needs to be a celebrity who looks like a bad boy and can sell the "I'm angry all of the time" attitude.  Wentworth Miller would be a good choice.  He typically plays characters that are brooding and capable of snapping at any moment.

Lord and Lady Capulet could be played by Charlize Theron and Kiefer Sutherland.  Both are old enough to be Juliet's parents, and both have enough acting depth to be loving one moment and overbearing and antagonistic the next.  

Finally, the friar, I believe, needs to be played by someone older and skinny.  That's just how I've always pictured him.  Xander Berkeley would absolutely be my first pick.  He's never been a headlining actor, but he is instantly recognizable.  That's what you want for this character.  Because he's always a supporting actor role, he's very good at selling the character that he's been given.  He adapts well.  Plus, his portrayal of Dr. Lamar from GATTACA is a similar type character to the friar.  

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial