To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, we asked leading actors to perform key speeches from his plays. Here, Joanna Vanderham speaks Juliet’s monologue from the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet. She and Romeo have declared their love for each other, despite their families’ feud, and Juliet insists that her devotion is true.

• Read the full text for this speech
  
• Read more about Shakespeare Solos
  
• Michael Billington on the video: ‘lets you see the mixed emotions coursing through Juliet’s brain’
• Joanna Vanderham stars in the drama One of Us, to be broadcast on BBC1 later this year
• View this video with subtitles on our YouTube channel