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
as Will Shakespeare

Gwyneth Paltrow
as Viola De Lesseps

Geoffrey Rush
as Philip Henslowe

Tom Wilkinson
as Hugh Fennyman

Judi Dench
as Queen Elizabeth

Imelda Staunton
as Nurse

Colin Firth
as Lord Wessex

Ben Affleck
as Ned Alleyn

Simon Callow
as Tilney

Steven Beard
as Makepeace
GenerationofSwine
Does anyone remember this? I do, but only because its what turned me off of the Oscars. Haven't watched them since. It was the rude awakening that they were fixed, the quality of the film didn't matter as much as the bribes. It beat Saving Private Ryan for best picture. And then it beat Bulwor...
CinemaSerf
Set during the later reign of Engand's Queen Elizabeth, this joyful drama sees poor old William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) having a bit of a creative drought. Lacking ideas and cash, and being pursued by both Richard Burbage (Martin Clunes) and the wonderfully dead pan Geoffrey Rush as Philip Hens...