As Rachel Zegler prepares to take on the iconic role of Juliet, let's take a look back at other stars who have portrayed Juliet.&nbsp;

The titular role of Juliet in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet&nbsp;is a timeless role that has been taken on by some of the film's most talented actresses. Now, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/rachel-zegler-katniss-everdeen-dress-ballad-of-songbirds-snakes-premiere-red-carpet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rachel Zegler</a> is set to star in <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/celebrities-on-broadway-right-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Broadway</a>'s newest play, Romeo + Juliet, as Juliet, alongside Kit Connor, who will play Romeo. The play, as per Variety, is described as an "edgy" take on the classic play that is bound to entertain the "TikTok generation." The role of a lifetime, and the role we all wanted in the 7th grade school play.
But can Zegler rival Claire Danes, who played Juliet in Baz Luhrmann's visual feast of a film from 1996? Or Dame Judi Dench?
Only time will tell. The official tagline for the play sets up the drama that is promised on opening night: &ldquo;The youth are fucked. Left to their own devices in their parents&rsquo; world of violent ends, an impulsive pair of star-crossed lovers hurtle toward their inescapable fate. The intoxicating high of passion quickly descends into a brutal chaos that can only end one way.&rdquo;
It's safe to say that this rendition of the star-crossed lovers' tale may have some modernized adjustments. In addition to Romeo + Juliet taking Broadway by storm, Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers are set to play Romeo and Juliet in a production for London's West End.&nbsp;
So, which actor is the best Juliet of all time and how many famed actors have taken on the iconic role? While it's important to note that Zegler is no stranger to Juliet (she played Maria in Steven Spielberg's West Side Story,&nbsp;a musical heavily inspired by Shakespeare's original), she has a few rivals for the most iconic take on Shakespeare's Juliet. Here are some of our nominations:

Norma Shearer

In 1936, the Canadian-American actress Norma Shearer played the role of Juliet in one of the earliest film productions of Romeo and Juliet, alongside the famed English actor Leslie Howard. The film stays faithful to Shakespeare's original play from the 16th century and features lavish sets and intricate costumes to do the play justice.

Judi Dench

When Dame Judi Dench was just 23 years old, she played the title role of Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's Old Vic production of Romeo and Juliet. She played the role in 1960 alongside John Stride. When discussing Shakespeare, the book the actress authored discussing each of the plays she's starred in throughout her career. The actress revealed that in one of her performances, she endured a few mishaps while playing the role. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2024/04/11/judi-dench-shakespeare-book-review/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">As per The Washington Post</a>, she reportedly sneezed "while lying on her lover&rsquo;s tomb" and in response to the line &ldquo;Where is my father and my mother, nurse?&rdquo; her father jokingly called out &nbsp;&ldquo;Here we are, darling, in row H.&rdquo;
"There&rsquo;s magic to be mined in mistakes," the actress said as she reminisced about the role.

Olivia Hussey&nbsp;

The English-Argentine film star Olivia Hussey portrayed Juliet in one of the most famous on-screen adaptations of the play. While Franco Zeffirelli adapted the play for the theater, he is most known for his on-screen adaptation of the play. The film was a hit and is now known as a classic in the world of film, thus solidifying Hussey as a well-known face for the character, Juliet,for decades.

Claire Danes

&nbsp;In Baz Luhrmann's fairly untraditional version of Romeo and Juliet, Clare Danes played Juliet after the role went through a recast. The then 14-year-old Natalie Portman <a href="https://graziamagazine.com/articles/20-years-since-romeo-and-juliet/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was reportedly picked first for the role</a> but then had to be recast as Luhrmann thought Portman looked far too young beside Leonardo DiCaprio, who played Romeo.

Condola Rashad

In 2013, Condola Rashad took to Broadway to play Juliet in the then-theatrical production of Romeo and Juliet. Similar to the production Zegler is set to star in, this version of the Shakespeare play has been modernized, as the costume and prop features feature 21st-century clothing and motorcycles. The Tony-award nominee starred alongside Pirates of the Caribbean actor Orlando Bloom, who played Romeo.

Hailee Steinfeld&nbsp;

In addition to Rashad's on-stage portrayal of the character, Hailee Steinfeld also played Juliet in the 2013 film adaptation of Romeo &amp; Juliet. Directed by Carlo Carlei, the film stays true to the Elizabethan Era period the play is set in but doesn't use a lot of Shakespeare's original dialogue. Steinfeld starred alongside Douglas Booth as they played the star-crossed lovers.

A Definitive Guide to Every Actress Who Has Played Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet

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