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.

• Miramax
• Universal Pictures
• Joseph Fiennes
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• Geoffrey Rush
• Tom Wilkinson
• Judi Dench
• Imelda Staunton
• Colin Firth
• Ben Affleck