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.

Genres

Cast

Joseph Fiennes

Will Shakespeare

Gwyneth Paltrow

Viola De Lesseps

Geoffrey Rush

Philip Henslowe

Tom Wilkinson

Hugh Fennyman

Judi Dench

Queen Elizabeth

Imelda Staunton

Nurse

Colin Firth

Lord Wessex

Ben Affleck

Ned Alleyn

Simon Callow

Tilney

Jim Carter

Ralph Bashford

Rupert Everett

Christopher Marlowe

Martin Clunes

Richard Burbage