Describe Desdemona's personality (and what actress might portray that personality)? Quote a few lines from Othello to support your answer.

If I were the director, I would cast an actress who is
Othello's physical opposite.  She would be blonde, fair, and  delicate while he would be
tall, strong, and dark.  But beneath her gentleness, the actress would also be able to
show great strength of character.  She obeys her husband, but she is not a doormat.  She
is the epitome of perfection of a woman of that time:  beautiful, graceful,
non-confrontational, and unshakable in her love for her husband.  Desdemona does not
have Ophelia's weakness nor Juliet's immaturity.   She is able to defy her father's
wishes and elope with Othello.  Othello even calls her "my fair warrior."  She can hold
her own in front of the Senate and address her father's accusations calmly, succinctly,
and irrefutably: "I do perceive here a divided duty . . ."  With Iago in Act 2, she is
able to hold her own against his witty tongue without losing her dignity.  When Othello
rages at her and hits her, she responds quietly and assertively, "I have not deserved
this."

She is as good as Iago is evil.  She forgives
Othello not out of weakness but out of strength.  She dies loving Othello.  As she says
to Emilia in Act 4:  "His unkindness may do much; his unkindness my take my life but
ne'er taint my love."  Iago is unable to poison Desdemona's unconditional and absolute
love for Othello.

The women in this play are quite strong.
 In fact, it is interesting that only true friendship in the play is between Emilia and
Desdemona.  My choice of an actress might be a younger version of Nicole
Kidman.