Andrea Riseborough will return to the London stage for the first time in seven years to take on the role of Rosalind in As You Like It at the National Theatre this autumn.
Shakespeare’s classic comedy will bring its pastoral tale of cross-dressing, love and forgiveness to the NT’s largest auditorium, the Olivier Theatre, in November.
Riseborough recently starred in the Oscar-winning black comedy film Birdman alongside a stellar cast including Michael Keaton, Emma Stone and Edward Norton, but the actress returns to the London stage following her performance in the equally star-studded Kenneth Branagh and Tom Hiddleston-led production of Ivanov in the West End.
The Newcastle-born performer, whose other numerous screen credits include Made In Dagenham, Never Let Me Go and W.E., was last seen at the National Theatre in 2006, when she took to the stage in Burn/Chatroom/Citizenship, while her last Shakespearean performance was in 2006 when she played Isabella in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Measure For Measure.
Riseborough follows in the footsteps of actresses including Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter and Helen Mirren, all of whom have previously played As You Like It’s Rosalind, to take on the role of the beautiful daughter of an exiled duke who falls in love with a wronged courtier.
As You Like It will be directed by Polly Findlay, whose production of Robert Louis Stevenson’s swashbuckling tale Treasure Island is currently entertaining audiences young and old at the South Bank venue.
The NT show will be the second major revival of As You Like It to be seen on the London stage this year. Olivier Award winner Michelle Terry leads the cast of the Bard’s comic play at Shakespeare’s Globe from 15 May to 5 September.