The story
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.
What critics & audiences say
Tomatometer93%Fresh#38 of 98 winnersFamous lines
Philip Henslowe: …The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?
Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
Hugh Fennyman: How?
Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery.
I know something of a woman in a man's profession. Yes, by God, I do know about that.
I will have poetry in my life. And adventure. And love. Love above all.
Viola de Lesseps: Tell me how you love her, Will.
William Shakespeare: Like a sickness and its cure together.
Lord Wessex: How is this to end?
Queen Elizabeth: As stories must when love's denied: with tears and a journey.
Love denied blights the soul we owe to God.
Philip Henslowe: The show must... you know...
William Shakespeare: Go on!
Viola De Lesseps: I would not have thought it: there IS something better than a play!
William Shakespeare: There is.
Viola De Lesseps: Even your play.
It will be a love story... for she will be my heroine for all time. And her name will be... Viola.
Write me well.
Quotes via Wikiquote
Fun facts
- Julia Roberts was originally set to play Viola when the film went into production at Universal in 1991, but she insisted only Daniel Day-Lewis could play Shakespeare. When he declined, she withdrew six weeks before shooting, and canceling the film cost Universal $6 million.Wikipedia · Production
- Before Julia Roberts quit, the studio tried to hold chemistry tests between her and actors including Hugh Grant, Ralph Fiennes, Colin Firth and Sean Bean, but Roberts either skipped the meetings or found fault with them all.Wikipedia · Production
- According to The Sunday Telegraph, Prince Edward was originally to be titled Duke of Cambridge on his 1999 marriage, but after watching the film he reportedly became attracted to Colin Firth's character's title and asked for Earl of Wessex instead.Wikipedia · Reception
- Harvey Weinstein's producer credit caused such a firestorm that it led to the so-called "Harvey Rule," which requires a producer to have performed a real role in making a film to earn the Producers Guild credit.Wikipedia · Production
- Shakespeare in Love controversially beat the critically favored Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture, becoming the first comedy to win the award since Annie Hall in 1977.Wikipedia · Oscar controversy
- The ending was re-shot several times after test screenings until Tom Stoppard came up with the idea of Viola suggesting that their parting could inspire Shakespeare's next play.Wikipedia · Production
- Kate Winslet was offered the role of Viola after the success of Titanic but turned it down to pursue independent films; Winona Ryder, Diane Lane and Robin Wright were also considered.Wikipedia · Production
- Novelist Faye Kellerman sued the writers in 1999, claiming the plot was stolen from her novel The Quality of Mercy. Miramax called the suit, filed six days before the Academy Awards, "absurd" and suggested it was a publicity stunt.Wikipedia · Plot precedents and similarities
- Critics noted strong similarities to the 1941 novel No Bed for Bacon. Ned Sherrin confirmed he had lent Tom Stoppard a copy, but said Marc Norman had developed the basic plot independently without knowing the book.Wikipedia · Plot precedents and similarities
- A 2020 deal put Shakespeare in Love under the same corporate umbrella as its old Oscar rival Saving Private Ryan, after ViacomCBS (now Paramount Skydance) acquired rights to the Miramax library.Wikipedia · Home media and rights