Looking for some of the best female Shakespeare monologues for your next theatre audition?  Sharing 5 comedic and 5 dramatic stage monologues for an actress.

1. Othello

Character: DESDEMONA

Location: Act I, sc. 3

Genre: Drama

First line: My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty:

• Read full Desdemona Monologue

….more monologues from Othello

2. Antony and Cleopatra

Character: CLEOPATRA

Location: Act V, sc. 2

Genre: Drama

First line: Sir, I will eat no meat, I’ll not drink, sir;

• Read full Cleopatra Monologue

….more monologues from Antony and Cleopatra

3. Hamlet

Character: QUEEN GERTRUDE

Location:  Act IV, sc. 7

Genre: Drama

First line: There is a willow grows aslant a brook, That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;

• Read full Queen Gertrude Monologue

….more monologues from Hamlet

4. Julius Caesar

Character: PORTIA

Location: Act II, sc. 1

Genre: Tragedy

First Line: Nor for yours neither. You’ve ungently, Brutus, Stole from my bed:

• Read full Portia Monologue

…more monologues from Julius Caesar

5. King Lear

Character: CORDELIA

Location: Act I, sc. 1

Genre: Tragedy

First Line: Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth:

• Read full Cordelia Monologue

…more monologues from King Lear

6. Two Gentleman of Verona

Character: SILVIA

Location: Act IV, sc. 3

Genre: Comedy

First Line: O Eglamour, thou art a gentleman–

• Read full Silvia Monologue

…more monologues from Two Gentleman of Verona

7. All’s Well That Ends Well

Character: HELENA

Location: Act I, sc. 1

Genre: Comedy

First Line: Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie Which we ascribe to heaven:

• Read full Helena Monologue

…more monologues from All’s Well That Ends Well

8. The Tempest

Character: ARIEL

Location: Act III, sc. 3

Genre: Comedy

First Line: You are three men of sin, whom Destiny,

• Read full Ariel Monologue

…more monologues from The Tempest

9. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Character: TITANIA

Location: Act II, sc. 1

Genre: Comedy

First Line: Set your heart at rest: The fairy land buys not the child of me.

• Read full Titania Monologue

…more monologues from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

10. The Winter’s Tale

Character: PERDITA

Location: Act IV, sc. 6

Genre: Comedy

First Line: You’d be so lean, that blasts of January Would blow you through and through.

• Read full Perdita Monologue

…more monologues from The Winter’s Tale