An undated photograph shows Britain’s Ben Wishaw in the role of Hamlet at a theatre in London. (Reuters)

London, Aug. 22 (PTI): Hamlet has been voted the finest play of Shakespeare in a unique poll conducted by the Royal Shakespeare Company among its actors.

The play beat King Lear, which took second place, while Antony and Cleopatra came third.

The other plays in the top 10 were Henry IV Part II, Twelfth Night, Macbeth, Othello, Titus Andronicus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest.

Paul Scofield, the 82-year-old veteran of stage and cinema, has been acclaimed for giving the greatest performance in a Shakespeare play for his legendary portrayal of King Lear. Paulina in The Winter’s Tale has been chosen for the most inspiring Shakespeare character while Iago in Othello was chosen as the most unappealing Shakespeare character.

The 200 voters included Ian McKellen, Antony Sher, Janet Suzman, Ian Richardson, Donald Sinden and Corin Redgrave.

Hamlet was also judged the Shakespeare play most relevant to today’s world and the one with the most memorable quote: “If it be now, it not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet will come; the readiness is all.”

Those who voted for Hamlet, which at 4,042 lines is the bard’s longest play, said that they had chosen it for its unique understanding of the human condition and for the universality of its themes.

Barbara Leigh-Hunt, who has appeared in the RSC productions of Hamlet and King Lear, said: “Hamlet deals with the human condition — mentally, politically, ethically, in every way — without compare.”

Michael Boyd, the RSC artistic director, said King Lear was his favourite but Hamlet was “the greatest play that I have ever worked on”.

Toby Stephens, who is playing Hamlet in the RSC’s current production, however, said, he viewed King Lear, once played by his late father Robert Stephens, as marginally superior.