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Based in the 1660s of Londons theaters, this film is about the rules of gender roles in theatre production, and means to change them for everyones benefit. Ned Kynaston is the assumedly gay cross-dressing actor who has been playing female parts in plays for years, particularly Desdemona in Othello, he also has a close relationship with a member of the Royal Court, the Duke of Buckingham. One day however, the rules of only men playing women could change when aspiring actress Maria auditions as Kynastons praised role, Desdemona, and soon enough, King Charles II decides to make the law that all female roles should be played only by women. Maria becomes a star, while Ned finds himself out of work. But after a while, Ned finds it in his nature to forgive Marias aspiration, they may even fall in love, and Charles may proclaim women will be played by either gender.
In Stuart Restoration king Charles IIs reign, gay actor Ned Kynaston, a specialist in female parts, enjoys the favor of the public on stage and royal favorite George Villiars, Duke of Buckingham, in bed. But his dresser, Maria, secretly learned acting by observing him and started performing (illegally) in a tavern. When the kings awfully common mistress, a former saleswoman, sides with Maria, the prohibition on actresses is lifted, later even reversed. Still Maria realizes shes artistically far inferior to Ned, and takes him in after bigot gentry roughed him up badly..
Billy Crudup
Ned Kynaston
Claire Danes
Maria Hughes
Rupert Everett
King Charles II
Derek Hutchinson
Stage Manager
Mark Letheren
Male Emilia
Tom Wilkinson
Thomas Betterton
Ben Chaplin
George Villiers II - Duke of Buckingham
Hugh Bonneville
Samuel Pepys
Jack Kempton
Call Boy
Alice Eve
Miss Frayne
Fenella Woolgar
Lady Meresvale
David Westhead
Harry
Nick Barber
Nick
Stephen Marcus
Thomas Cockerell
Richard Griffiths
Sir Charles Sedley
Zoë Tapper
Nell Gwynn
Edward Fox
Sir Edward Hyde
Robin Dunn
Butler
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