 Kate Winslet (qv) didnt even audition for the role of Ophelia.  Winslet had previously auditioned for the  Helena Bonham Carter (qv) "Elizabeth" role in  Kenneth Branagh (qv)s _Frankenstein (1994)_ (qv), and Branagh was  so impressed that he offered her the role in  _Hamlet (1996)_ (qv)without so much as a reading.