Love is the only inspiration.
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.
Directed byJohn Madden
- Status
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 4m
- Language
- EN
- Released
- December 11, 1998
- Budget
- $25,000,000
- Revenue
- $289,317,794
Watch the
Trailers & teasers
Featuring
Cast & crew
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
Steven Beard
Makepeace
- Directed by
- John Madden
- Written by
- Marc NormanTom Stoppard
- Produced by
- Edward Zwick
Harvey Weinstein
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