Helena Bonham Carter played Olivia in Trevor Nunn's film, Twelfth Night. In the first film version of the play, made in 1910, Julia Swayne Gordon depicted Lady Olivia. In 2017/18, Kara Tointon played the role at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. He had previously played the role in 20 at Shakespeare's Globe in London. He won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Olivia. In 2014, Mark Rylance played the role in an all-male production that ran in repertory with Richard III (in which Rylance played the title role). In 2009, Shakespeare in the Park put on a production starring Anne Hathaway as Viola and Audra McDonald as Olivia. One of Shakespeare's most popular plays, Twelfth Night has been produced for both the stage and film multiple times. Here, Olivia and Sebastian are hastily married, Viola and Sebastian rediscover each other, Malvolio is rescued, and Orsino proposes to Viola. The climax of the play takes place at Olivia's estate. However, all ends well because Sebastian and his sister are extremely similar. However, in a case of mistaken identity, she marries Viola's twin brother, Sebastian. Olivia eventually concludes that she must marry him. Olivia attempts to woo the young Cesario/Viola and repeatedly asks/lures him to come back to her estate by using various tricks and problems. Cesario also compliments Olivia on her beauty, something that helps heal Olivia's heart from the losses she has recently incurred. Olivia quickly falls in love with the witty Cesario (Viola's name when she is in disguise) because Cesario is unafraid of saying what he/she is thinking, even though Cesario never says anything nice to Olivia (except, of course, when speaking Orsino's messages). During the shipwreck, Viola was separated from her brother, Sebastian, and she believes that he has died. Viola has been recently shipwrecked and she has taken on the disguise of a boy so that she may work for Orsino with no one knowing her true identity. Malvolio uses his position as a steward to gain her affections.ĭespite all of the rumpus going on at her home, Olivia refuses all visitors until Orsino sends his new page, the protagonist of the play, Viola, to call on her. Sir Andrew has been invited to her household by Sir Toby, and Andrew hopes to use his stay to make Olivia his bride. The play begins with the Duke of Illyria, Orsino, pining away over his love for Olivia while she refuses to accept him as a suitor.

Because of her wealth and beauty, Olivia attracts various men ( Malvolio, Sir Andrew Aguecheek) who wish to marry her.

Twelve nights william shakespeare