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"It is not a question of acting a man. I can act a man. There's no artistry in that. There are things that I can be as a woman that I cannot be as a man."
In seventeenth century London, woman are forbidden from acting on stage so all female roles are played by men who have been carefully groomed and developed for their cross-dressing performances. Bisexual Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is the most illustrious "leading lady" of his time. He's adored by his audiences and by King Charles (Rupert Everett) and Charles' vulgar mistress Nell (Zoe Tapper).
He's also secretly loved by his dresser, the beautiful Maria (Claire Danes). Maria has also carefully studied Ned's acting and she wants to act herself. When she has the opportunity to assume the identity of a man playing Othello's Desdemona, she jumps at the chance. She turns in such a brilliant performance that when King Charles discovers she is actually a woman, he declares that only real women should now be allowed to play women's roles.
This, of course, puts Ned in the very harrowing situation of losing his beloved work.
Also in the fine cast are Ben Chaplin as the Duke of Buckingham; Hugh Bonneville as Samuel Pepys; and Tom Wilkinson as Betterton, the theater owner.
Directed by Richard Eyre.
Run time: 1 hour, 46 minutes
Rated R for sexual content and language.
My personal rating: B+
In seventeenth century London, woman are forbidden from acting on stage so all female roles are played by men who have been carefully groomed and developed for their cross-dressing performances. Bisexual Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is the most illustrious "leading lady" of his time. He's adored by his audiences and by King Charles (Rupert Everett) and Charles' vulgar mistress Nell (Zoe Tapper).
He's also secretly loved by his dresser, the beautiful Maria (Claire Danes). Maria has also carefully studied Ned's acting and she wants to act herself. When she has the opportunity to assume the identity of a man playing Othello's Desdemona, she jumps at the chance. She turns in such a brilliant performance that when King Charles discovers she is actually a woman, he declares that only real women should now be allowed to play women's roles.
This, of course, puts Ned in the very harrowing situation of losing his beloved work.
Also in the fine cast are Ben Chaplin as the Duke of Buckingham; Hugh Bonneville as Samuel Pepys; and Tom Wilkinson as Betterton, the theater owner.
Directed by Richard Eyre.
Run time: 1 hour, 46 minutes
Rated R for sexual content and language.
My personal rating: B+
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