

Love is the only inspiration.
December 11, 1998
2h 4m
EN
John Madden
Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy.

Joseph Fiennes
Will Shakespeare

Gwyneth Paltrow
Viola De Lesseps

Geoffrey Rush
Philip Henslowe

Tom Wilkinson
Hugh Fennyman


Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard
3,211

Judi Dench
Queen Elizabeth

Imelda Staunton
Nurse

Colin Firth
Lord Wessex

Ben Affleck
Ned Alleyn

Simon Callow
Tilney

Steven Beard
Makepeace

Miramax
US

Universal Pictures
US

Bedford Falls Productions
US