Brutus and Other Heroines: Playing Shakespeare's Roles for Women, Paperback

Why didn't Shakespeare write more roles for mature women? For Harriet Walter, the solution was to ignore the dictates of centuries of tradition, and to begin playing the mature male characters.

An exploration of the Shakespearean canon through the eyes of a self-identified "feminist actor" - but, above all, a remarkable account of an acting career unconstrained by tradition or expectations.

Harriet Walter is one of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation. She has played most of the great Shakespearean female roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as appearing at the Donmar Warehouse, the National Theatre, and in the West End and on Broadway.