Casting
Welles cast himself in the title role, but was initially stymied in casting Lady Macbeth. At first he wanted to cast Vivien Leigh in the role, but he never inquired for her availability since she was married to Laurence Olivier, who Welles assumed would be unsupportive. Other actresses whom he approached included Tallulah Bankhead, Anne Baxter, and Mercedes McCambridge, before settling on Jeanette Nolan, a radio actress with no previous film or stage experience.
Welles brought in Irish actor Dan O'Herlihy in his first U.S. film role as Macduff, and cast former child star Roddy McDowall as Malcolm. Welles also cast his daughter Chris in the role of Macduff's son; this was her only film appearance.
- Orson Welles – Macbeth, a Scottish captain and later King of Scotland
- Jeanette Nolan – Lady Macbeth, and later Queen of Scotland
- Dan O'Herlihy – Macduff, the Thane of Fife
- Peggy Webber – Lady Macduff, and as one of the Three Witches
- Chris Welles – Macduff's son
- Erskine Sanford – King Duncan of Scotland, who was later murdered by Macbeth
- Roddy McDowall – Malcolm, Duncan's eldest son
- Edgar Barrier – Banquo, a Scottish captain and Macbeth's friend
- Jerry Farber – Fleance, Banquo's son
- Alan Napier – a Holy Father
- John Dierkes – Ross, a Scottish lord
- Keene Curtis – Lennox, a Scottish lord
- Lionel Braham – Siward, an English commander
- Archie Heugly – Young Siward, his son
- Morgan Farley – a Doctor attending Lady Macbeth
- Lurene Tuttle – a Gentlewoman attending Lady Macbeth, and as one of the Three Witches
- Brainerd Duffield – First Murderer and as one of the Three Witches (Duffield is the only actor in the film to play a role in drag.)
- William Alland – Second Murderer
- George Chirello – Seyton, Macbeth's servant
- Gus Schilling – a Porter at Macbeth's castle
Read more about this topic: Macbeth (1948 Film)
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