1993 adaptation of the play. Alison Findley referred to Beatrice as "a conduit for the film's emotional energy". In Joss Whedon's 2012 film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice was played by American actress Amy Acker. Television and Web Series The earliest known UK broadcast television performance of Much Ado About Nothing featured Maggie Smith as Beatrice. The production was adapted from the performance at the Old Vic and was directed for television by Franco Zeffirelli. In 2005, Sarah Parish played a modernized Beatrice as part of the ShakespeaRe-Told series of televised Shakespeare adaptations. In ShakespeaRe-Told, Beatrice is a news anchor at the fictitious local news show Wessex Tonight. Harriett Maire played Beatrice in the web series "Nothing Much To Do". "Nothing Much To Do" is a modern adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing told through vlogs. References Literary characters introduced in 1599 Female Shakespearean characters Fictional Italian people