Emilia (Othello) drops the handkerchief in Cassio's chamber. (III.iii.321–322). Later Emilia even lies to Desdemona, saying she doesn't know where it is; it is clear she feels a "divided duty" in this matter between her friend and her husband. She is, however, entirely ignorant of Iago's plans until the very end of the play. Iago states on two separate occasions during the play that he suspects Emilia of infidelity with both Othello and Cassio, and this is sometimes suggested as a possible motive for his actions; however, there is little if any evidence within the play to suggest that his suspicions have
Desdemona been numerous screen modernisations and adaptions of the play. During 1999 Edinburgh Film Festival, Adil Hussain, cast as Othello, fell in love with Kristen Jain, who was playing Desdemona. He ended up tightly hugging her, much to her & audience shock, instead of "killing" her as per the script and thus forcing the curtains to be brought down immediately. They eventually got married, 8 years later, in 2007. In "O" (2001), Julia Stiles played a character based on Desdemona in a version of "Othello" set in a contemporary high school. A 2001 British made-for-television film featuring Keeley Hawes as Desdemona