Character on the couch
Each week we subject one of drama's personalities to psychoanalysis. Today Ophelia is played by Kristen Sieh. The analyst is Leo Benedictus.
Hello, Ophelia. How are you feeling?
Well, the king just died, so the nation's kind of sad. But it's exciting for me because my brother's home for the funeral, and Hamlet is back from school. It's nice, because most of the time I'm just sitting around the castle by myself.
How is that for you?
It's a little bit depressing. I really like karaoke, but it's not as much fun by yourself. And I really like cake, so I kind of eat a lot when I'm by myself, which isn't very good.
How did you feel about the king's death?
It's really scary because he was a really good king. He was sort of like a movie star. And now everybody wants Hamlet to be the king, but I don't know ... I feel like he is not really wholeheartedly into it. He seems kind of depressed.
What is your relationship with Hamlet?
That's a little bit embarrassing, but I guess you could say we were boyfriend and girlfriend for a while ... OK, we would kiss sometimes, and we had a bit of a relationship ... OK, we were in love with each other, but then he went away to college, and I got left at home.
Would you like to pick up your relationship again?
I think so. When I first heard that he was coming back, I thought that I definitely would, because he's really cute and we grew up together. Now, I still like him ... but he's changed.
Would you like a boyfriend who was the king?
I think it would be great. And I think I would make a really great queen, too. I've got a lot of political opinions. I want Hamlet to tell me he loves me, and marry me and make me his queen so I can help the children of the world.
And then people might take you more seriously?
Yeah. I'm not just a pretty face, you know? I mean sure, I have nice hair and I wear good clothes, but, like, I do think about things really deeply sometimes.
· Kristen Sieh will be appearing in A Thousand Natural Shocks at the Bath Shakespeare Festival from tomorrow until Sunday. Box office: 01225 448844.