Wow, talk about a tough decision.
Frankly, there isn't a Shakespeare character I ~wouldn't~ want to play, although some are definitely more challenging than others. There are so very many different gorgeous woman's roles in Shakespeare (and some men ones that would be fun) and I hope, in my life, I get to play most of them. I did Ariel when I was about 10, which was very cool. Ariel is the only 'big' role a child actor can have. I also played Young Marina in Pericles, which was amusing, but very sappy. She's a totally disgusting paragon of virtue, which makes her a bit boring. But, on with the future. There are some roles I'd like to play sooner rather than later, I suppose; there are some roles that are downright irresistable.
Juliet- My namesake, of course! I've done some Juliet scenes, but I'd really love to play her. Even though, being a bit older than a 13 (ok, she was almost 14) I'm technically over the hill as far as she goes...But it's such a wonderful role. Juliet is a clever girl, and had she lived, a match for any Rosalind or Portia in wit. Plus, she really grows up over the course of the play, and that kind of progression is such a treat for any actress.
Beatrice-She and Juliet are my total favorites as people. And who wouldn't want to play such a smart, witty woman? Plus the romance between Benedick and her is so perfect.
Viola-I agree with you, Ganymede, playing a girl/guy is a great challenge. And Viola has such range, from the masculine/feminie slapstick, to the poetic, "Make me a willow cabin at your gate," to the heartwrenching "She pined in grief, and with a green and yellow melancholy, sat, like patience on a monument, smiling at grief." Viola is conciously a character within a character. She's always playing someone else, which makes her really interesting to the actor. Plus, she's such a neat person, witty and clearly enjoying her deception. I recently played Viola for a little while; unfortunately the production collapsed before it went up, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Portia from Julius Caesar-- A small character as Caesar goes, but a pivotal one. Her speech to Brutus is so amazing. I'm working on it as a monologue right now, and it's absolutely brilliant, the most powerful line being, "If it be so, then Portia is Brutus's harlot, not his wife." It'd be worth it to play her for that one scene. Working on it as a monologue is fun, but it's nothing like having a Brutus to interact with. There's a lot of ways to interpret the lines, give them more power, show the husband-wife relationship physically as well as verbally, etc.
Lady Macbeth--Evil is cool. Villains are so much FUN...goody goodies are so dull.
Rosalind/Celia-good parts, both of them. Rosalind says more, but Celia is onstage a lot, just watching, and that would be fascinating to play, just doing reactions rather than actually saying anything. And with all that Rosalind gets up to, there's plenty to react to! Then again, as I'm directing a little version of As You Like It right now, I don't feel a big conpunction to play them anytime soon. They're interesting, but directing is sometimes better.
Ophelia-There are so many ways you could play her, and she goes crazy, which is great fun when you're an actor. (Otherwise, not) You have to make all these decisions...did she sleep with Hamlet, or not? How does she respond to his nastiness? To her father's manipulation? Does she let him know that he's being spied on in that pivotal scene after "To Be or Not to Be?" It's a great part.
Gertrude-While less rippingly wild as Ophelia, another great role, although probably one I'll have to wait a while to play. The more sordid and complicated and horrible a character's life is, the better it is to play, and Gertrude's is by the end. A son like Hamlet is no easy thing to have...Besides, I'd get to die on stage, and few things are better than that....
Anne (from Richard III)--Again, one pivotal scene that makes all the difference. Anne agrees to marry her husband's killer over her father-in-law's corpse. Richard, of course, must be amazing in some way to do this, but for the audience to understand, and to believe, Anne has to have her own reasons for giving in, and they need to be clear. A tragic, but wonderful, role. (Speaking of Richard, shaxper, I love your picture and your quote--VERY funny!!! And a good movie)
Puck--Such a fun role. Such a cool character. Should not be reserved for guys!
Hermia/Helena-Not a challenging role, either of them, but so fluffy and cute. A wonderful role to do with a friend as the opposite, if possible.
Titania-In my opinion, the proud queen gets a bit shortchanged in the male-win ending, but she'd still be fun to play for her tongue-lashing of Oberon in the beginning.
Well, I could go on and on and on....and probably will come back and do just that
...but perhaps I should stop here for now.
~Juliet~