Andrew Scott Had to Learn How to Play Hamlet Again to Prepare for ‘Elsinore’

Andrew Scott, known for his frequent portrayals of Hamlet, found himself back on the stage as the Prince of Denmark in the film "Elsinore." This time, however, he was stepping into the role of Ian Charleson, who played Hamlet in 1982 at London's National Theatre. Scott had to revisit many aspects of the character, with the exception of the emotional toll the demanding schedule took on him. "That part really does nearly kill you," he said, recalling his 2017 production of the play.

Scott was struck by the physical and emotional toll that Charleson's performance endured, particularly as the actor battled AIDS just three months before his death. "The idea that he was doing it when he was so sick... is still to this day just completely mind-boggling to me," Scott said. Charleson's performance, regarded as one of the finest in British theatre history, especially his portrayal of Hamlet's "To Be or Not to Be" soliloquy, remains a testament to his extraordinary talent.

Unfortunately, no footage exists of Charleson's final performance, so Scott had to rely on his imagination to understand what may have been going through the actor's mind during such a challenging time.

Scott learned the soliloquy and re-familiarized himself with the entire script, focusing on the parts that might have been relevant to Charleson's transformative experience as Hamlet. Despite the harrowing nature of the role, Scott believes Charleson found a sense of freedom in bringing the character to life. "That’s what we do as actors," he explained, "We look towards light, and I believe this applies not just to actors but to human beings as well.

We don’t wallow in the darkness." "Elsinore" is set to hit theaters on November 20 by Focus Features.