How many lines does Viola have in Twelfth Night?

The size of the part, every scene it speaks in, its longest speeches, and how long it takes to learn.

The Offbook team

Oct 8, 2026

Viola has about 339 lines in Twelfth Night: 2,566 words in 121 speeches, 13.2% of the play, and the second-largest part. The role speaks in 8 of the 18 scenes, and its longest wait is 3 scenes in a row without a line.

Viola speaks in eight of the eighteen scenes, disguised as Cesario in all but the first. Her best-known speech, “I left no ring with her,” is a soliloquy in verse; much of the rest is quick exchanges with Orsino and Olivia.

Lines: 339
Words: 2,566
Share of play: 13.2%
Speech time: 18 min

62% of the words are verse. 121 speeches means about 121 cues to learn.

Scene by scene

Scene	Words	Minutes
Act 1, Scene 2	242	1.7
Act 1, Scene 4	95	0.7
Act 1, Scene 5	555	4.0
Act 2, Scene 2	231	1.6
Act 2, Scene 4	242	1.7
Act 3, Scene 1	470	3.4
Act 3, Scene 4	394	2.8
Act 5, Scene 1	337	2.4

The longest speeches

Speech	Scene	Words
“I left no ring with her: what means this lady?”	Act 2, Scene 2	208
“There is a fair behavior in thee, captain;”	Act 1, Scene 2	125
“A blank, my lord. She never told her love,”	Act 2, Scene 4	77
“This fellow is wise enough to play the fool;”	Act 3, Scene 1	77
“If nothing lets to make us happy both”	Act 5, Scene 1	77
“Make me a willow cabin at your gate,”	Act 1, Scene 5	67
“Most radiant, exquisite and unmatchable beauty—I p…”	Act 1, Scene 5	66
“What money, sir?”	Act 3, Scene 4	49

How many lines a day to learn

New lines a day to be off book in time, learning five days a week. Review what you already know on the other days.

Time until off book	New lines a day
2 weeks	34
3 weeks	23
4 weeks	17
6 weeks	12

Questions actors ask