Patrick Stewart was terrific in that role and remains my definite King Claudius, making all the more overtly villainous Claudii look hammy. :) The text provides ample ground to play Claudius this way, but it's so rarely done.

(Derek Jacobi in Branagh's film was also competent, reasonable and not mustache-stroking, but he lost his temper earlier, plus his Gertrude actually listened to her son and withdrew from Claudius post closet scene.)

Macbeth: that is a terrific poem. As a reader, I'm always convinced the ghost is there for that reason, but as a watcher, I've found I prefer productions where it's not. (And I definitely don't want to see any dagger, what the hell, Hollywood!)