How old is the character Beatrice in 'Much ado about nothing'?

Question:I have an audition coming up and i need to play a shakespeare female character around 21. I'm finding it very had to find ages. Any help would be great thanks.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have an audition coming up and i need to play a shakespeare female character around 21. I'm finding it very had to find ages. Any help would be great thanks.

I always thought of her as around 25 too.
In Kenneth Branagh's film version she was played by Emma Thompson, who was 34 at the time of filming. So i'm sure there would be a little leeway.

She's a fantastic part to play, and quite a modern woman for a Shakespearean character.

Beatrice would be fine...I think she is usually cast a little bit older...more like 25...but she's a fantastic character and so many of the younger women in Shakespeare are not as strong...

She should be cast between 18 and 25.

Sounds like a great part to play.
Beatrice was an orphan,the niece of Leonato the Governor of Messina.
The central plot concerns Don John's deception whereby Claudio believes his beloved Hero unfaithful.However,the sub-plot of the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick adds the real substance to the play,and the gradual realization of their love for each other has spawned countless works.