In the RSC's 2002 production directed by Gregory Doran, Harriet Walter's Beatrice (photo 4) was described as 'nimble-witted, larky, delightful' (Times). Walter and Nicholas le Prevost (Benedick) played the couple as misfits whose comic eccentricities are part of their independent spirit in a town that all too easily can fall foul to trickery and mistrust.

Judi Dench (photo 3) played Beatrice to great acclaim in John Barton's 1976 production. Dench's Beatrice managed to bring together all the skills of the comic actor in one spellbinding performance: perfect timing, delicate movement, vocal inflexion, wit and pathos. Her ability to shift from the comic banter to more serious reflection was demonstrated in Act III Scene I when Hero arranges for Beatrice to overhear her conversation with Ursula.

When Beatrice hears reports of how much Benedick is in love with her she became solemn and withdrawn. 'When she spoke, the joy of being loved only risked manifesting itself in one or two lines. She seemed taken aback by her own surfacing emotion.' [Keith Parsons & Pamela Mason, Shakespeare in Performance, eds, Salamander, 1995 from chapter on 'Much Ado About Nothing' by Susan L. Powell, p.159]

Peggy Ashcroft's Beatrice (photo 2) was also considered such a great interpretation that she played it twice at the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre - once in 1950 and again in 1955. John Gielgud played Benedick and directed on both occasions. (Both of them had in fact played the couple once before in 1931).

Tamsin Greig (photo 1) made her RSC debut as Beatrice (with Joseph Millson as Benedict) in Marianne Elliott’s 2006 production;
'This is a saucy production with an absolute star at its centre...Tamsin Greig plays Beatrice to perfection...few female actresses can do physical comedy as well'
Sunday Times