<Li> Kenneth Branagh as Benedick, a nobleman in the court of Don Pedro . He is very self - righteous but shows himself to have good judgement during the "wedding" scene, as he is the only man from Don Pedro's entourage who implicitly believes Hero . His arrogance and selfishness make his relationship with Beatrice an argumentative one, but at the end of the film, Beatrice and Benedick agree to marry . </Li> <Li> Emma Thompson as Beatrice, Leonato's niece, and Hero's cousin and chamber - mate . She is a strong - willed woman who charms and beguiles all who know her with her wit and cleverness . She confesses her love for Benedick and agrees to marry him . </Li> <Li> Robert Sean Leonard as Count Claudio, a close friend of Don Pedro and Benedick, and fiancé to Hero, with whom he has been in love since before the men went to war against Don John . He does not believe Hero when she protests her innocence, and humiliates her by publicly casting her off during their wedding ceremony . When Borachio finally confesses and Hero's innocence becomes clear, Claudio is devastated over his part in her "death" (as Hero's father leads him to believe). He agrees to marry Hero's cousin at Leonato's request, and is reunited with his love when it is revealed that "sweet Hero" is still alive and now his bride in truth . </Li> <Li> Kate Beckinsale as Hero, the sweet, innocent only child of Governor Leonato, in love with Claudio . She is falsely accused of being unfaithful to Claudio on the night before her wedding . At the end of the film, Don John's plot against her and Claudio is revealed and they are happily married as was planned in the beginning . </Li>

Who plays claudio in much ado about nothing