Directed by:
John MaddenCinematography:
Richard GreatrexComposer:
Stephen WarbeckCast:
Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench, Simon Callow, Jim Carter, Martin Clunes, Antony Sher, Imelda Staunton (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
In late 16th Century London, the theatre's most promising young playwright, Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes), is suffering from writer's block. Rose Theatre owner Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush) is desperate that Will's new play - tentatively entitled Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter - be finished, whilst a new cast member, Thomas Kent, is equally eager to make his stage debut. Kent has a secret however: 'he' is actually Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow), merchant's daughter and fiancé of Lord Wessex (Colin Firth). Adopting a disguise to enter a trade forbidden to women, matters become complicated when Will falls for her in her more conventional garb. It may take the intervention of Queen Elizabeth (Judi Dench) herself to make sure the course of true love runs smoothly and that the show goes on. (Universal Pictures UK)
(more)Cast
![Gwyneth Paltrow](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/420/164420101_ed9f3c.jpg)
Gwyneth Paltrow
USA
Best movies:
Se7en (1995)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
![Joseph Fiennes](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/270/270573_dd2423.jpg)
Joseph Fiennes
UK
Best movies:
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC (2016) (theatrical recording)
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
![Geoffrey Rush](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/742/162742319_cc2fea.jpg)
Geoffrey Rush
Australia
Best movies:
Finding Nemo (2003)
The King's Speech (2010)
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
![Colin Firth](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/139/163139225_2e79db.png)
Colin Firth
UK
Best movies:
The King's Speech (2010)
Love Actually (2003)
Conspiracy (2001) (TV movie)
![Ben Affleck](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/145/164145892_11d71c.jpg)
Ben Affleck
USA
Best movies:
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Gone Girl (2014)
The Last Duel (2021)
![Judi Dench](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/205/163205154_c0b055.jpg)
Judi Dench
UK
Best movies:
A Performance of Macbeth (1979) (TV movie)
The Hollow Crown (2012) (series)
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC (2016) (theatrical recording)
![Simon Callow](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/886/164886259_f07a83.jpg)
Simon Callow
UK
Best movies:
Amadeus (1984)
No Man's Land (2001)
The Company (2007) (series)
![Jim Carter](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/422/162422071_f2d160.jpg)
Jim Carter
UK
Best movies:
Black Beauty (1994)
Cranford (2007) (series)
The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999) (series)
![Martin Clunes](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/942/161942012_24c62b.jpg)
Martin Clunes
UK
Best movies:
Swing Kids (1993)
Gormenghast (2000) (series)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
![Antony Sher](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/456/456099_96dfed.jpg)
Antony Sher
South Africa
Best movies:
Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters (1999) (TV movie)
Shakespeare Live! From the RSC (2016) (theatrical recording)
The Company (2007) (series)
![Imelda Staunton](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/456/164456169_b6e209.png)
Imelda Staunton
UK
Best movies:
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Cranford (2007) (series)
Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (1996)
![Tom Wilkinson](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/168/458/168458054_s7uzko.jpg)
Tom Wilkinson
UK
Best movies:
Batman Begins (2005)
In the Name of the Father (1993)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
![Mark Williams](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/279/279550_ed504a.jpg)
Mark Williams
UK
Best movies:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Stardust (2007)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
![Steven O'Donnell](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/330/330863_6b633c.jpg)
Steven O'Donnell
Best movies:
Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Foyle's War (2002) (series)
Tim McMullan
UK
Best movies:
The Fifth Element (1997)
Shadowlands (1993)
The Honest Courtesan (1998)
![Patrick Barlow](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/162/462/162462329_9c04f9.jpg)
Patrick Barlow
UK
Best movies:
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
Notting Hill (1999)
Bridget McConnell
Best movies:
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Quills (2000)
![Georgie Glen](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/649/159649953_c2d1a2.jpg)
Georgie Glen
UK
Best movies:
Jonathan Creek (1997) (series)
Wives and Daughters (1999) (series)
Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) (series)
![Nicholas Boulton](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/109/309/109309473_3d403b.jpg)
Nicholas Boulton
UK
Best movies:
Endeavour (2012) (series)
Jonathan Creek (1997) (series)
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Desmond Mcnamara
UK
Best movies:
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Lucky Break (2001)
A Pin for the Butterfly (1994)