Hero (Much Ado About Nothing)

Hero
Much Ado About Nothing character
John William Wright's 1849 depiction of Hero
Created by	William Shakespeare
Portrayed by	Ellen Terry Kate Beckinsale Jennifer Gould Billie Piper Jillian Morgese Jennifer Paredes
In-universe information
Relatives	Beatrice (cousin) Leonato (father)

Hero is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing. She is the daughter of Leonato, a governor in Messina, and cousin to Beatrice. In the play, Hero falls in love with Claudio, who, under the influence of Don John, wrongfully accuses her of adultery; this leads her to fake her death. Hero is ultimately proven innocent, and reconciles with Claudio at the play's conclusion.

Hero's origins are possibly from The Faerie Queen, Orlando Furioso, and Matteo Bandello's Novelle. The Hero/Claudio plot has attracted criticism that its difference in tone from the Beatrice/Benedick plot gives rise to dramatic incoherence, and this has led to Much Ado About Nothing sometimes being termed a tragicomedy. Especially in the 20th and 21st centuries, Shakespeare's depiction of Hero has been criticized by feminist readings of the play.

Actresses that have portrayed Hero on stage and screen include Ellen Terry, Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Gould, Billie Piper, Jillian Morgese and Jennifer Paredes.