But King Charles II is tired of seeing the same old performers in the same old tragedies. Since no one will take him up on his suggestion to improve Othello with a couple of good jokes, he decides to liven the royal palate by allowing real women to tread the boards.
In a slightly less progressive spirit, he rules that men may no longer play women's parts. This is good news for the monarch's mistress, the saucy, stage-struck Nell Gwynn. It is also good news for Maria, Kynaston's lovelorn young dresser who has been secretly performing at a seedy tavern in lavish costumes borrowed from her employer.
It is very bad news for Ned, who plummets from his exalted position as one of London's most desirable females to become a virtual nobody, virtually overnight. Cast out of the spotlight, Ned seems headed for burlesque obscurity until Maria, now a rising star, takes it upon herself to make a man of him again.
CLAIRE DANES / Maria
Claire Danes recently completed filming Anand Tucker's SHOPGIRL opposite Steve Martin, which was based on Martin's novella.
Danes' recently starred in the blockbuster TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES and the indie hit, IGBY GOES DOWN. She also appeared opposite Meryl Streep in Stephen Daldry's Academy Award-winning THE HOURS.
Danes' other film credits include the role of Juliet opposite Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo in Baz Luhrmann's ROMEO + JULIET, Gillian Armstrong's LITTLE WOMEN, Michael Pressman's TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY, Bille August' s LES MISERABLES, Francis Ford Coppola's THE RAINMAKER, Oliver Stone's U-TURN and Jodie Foster' s HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
Danes is well known for her role as Angela Chase on the critically acclaimed series, "My So Called Life" for which she received both a Golden Globe and an Emmy Nomination.
RUPERT EVERETT / King Charles II
In recent years, Rupert Everett has attained international stardom due to a memorable array of both comedic and dramatic film roles. His scene-stealing performance as Julia Roberts' confidant in MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING earned him Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations, as well as American Comedy, Blockbuster Entertainment and London Film Critics Awards for Best Supporting Actor.
This May, Dreamworks will release the highly anticipated sequel, SHREK 2. Everett has lent his voice talents to play Prince Charming opposite Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas.
A DIFFERENT LOYALTY, in which Everett plays a Russian double agent opposite Sharon Stone, will be released by Lions Gate in 2004. Directed by Marek Kanievska, the film is based on the life of Eleanor Philby, whose husband, Kim Philby, was a spy who infiltrated British intelligence for the Russians before deflecting to Moscow in 1963.
The highly anticipated Julian Fellowes film, A WAY THROUGH THE WOODS, is also scheduled for release this year. Everett plays the third party that disrupts the marriage of the characters played by Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson.
Everett recently starred in the classic Oscar Wilde tale, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST, under the legendary Ealing Studios banner. The Fragile Films/Miramax production was directed by Oliver Parker. The cast also included Judi Dench, Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon.
In the U.K., Everett was last seen in Mike Barker's TO KILL A KING, in which he starred opposite Tim Roth and Dougray Scott. Set in seventeenth century England, the film explores the complex relationship of Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax that resulted following the execution of King Charles I, who is portrayed by Everett.
In 2002, Everett lent his voice talents to the Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies animated adventure THE WILD THORNBERRYS.
Everett was most recently seen in LIASONS DANGEREUSES. The film, a remake of DANGEROUS LIASONS that is set in the 1960's, stars Catherine Deneuve, Nastassja Kinski, and Leelee Sobieski. Josee Dayan directed the film in English and French, and it was produced by French broadcaster TF1 and Jean-Luc Azoulay's JLA Prods. LIASONS DANGEREUSES aired in a two parts on the Women's Entertainment Network.
In 1999, Everett was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical for his memorable portrayal of Lord Arthur Goring in Oscar Wilde's classic tale, AN IDEAL HUSBAND. The film also starred Cate Blanchett, Jeremy Northam and Julianne Moore. Everett's portrayal of a dashing bachelor who finds his lifestyle caught up in a tangled web of lies, temptations and secret liaisons, was both charming and unforgettable. AN IDEAL HUSBAND was written and directed by Oliver Parker and released by Miramax Films.
Other film credits include P.J. Hogan's UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, THE NEXT BEST THING, opposite Madonna, Disney's INSPECTOR GADGET, Miramax's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, the critically acclaimed THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, and the children's favorite DUNSTON CHECKS IN. Additionally, he starred in CEMETARY MAN, Robert Altman's PRET-A-PORTER, DUET FOR ONE, HEARTS OF FIRE, THE CHRONICLE OF A DEATH FORETOLD, directed by Franco Rossi, TOLERANCE, INSIDE MONKEY ZETTERLAND, and THE MAN WITH THE GOLD RIMMED GLASSES. Two of his most well known early roles were in the classic films DANCE WITH A STRANGER and THE COMFORT OF STRANGERS.
Everett has also garnered critical acclaim for his dramatic work on stage. Most notably, he gained recognition for his performance in Another Country, a role that he had originated on stage in London. He then went on to star alongside Colin Firth in the film version of the highly praised play in 1984. Additional London theater credits include: Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Hear Anymore, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Some Sunny Day, Mass Appeal, Don Juan and Chinchilla. His theater work in Glasgow includes: The Vortex, Heartbreak House, A Waste of Time, Private Lives, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and The White Devil.
Everett is also the author of two successful novels, Hello Darling Are You Working? and The Hairdresser of St. Tropez, which was published in the United Kingdom in 1995.
Everett was born and raised in the United Kingdom. Educated in a Benedictine monastery, he left school at the age of fifteen and made his way to London to pursue theater. He eventually joined the avant-garde Citizens Theater Company of Glasgow, where he began his theater career in repertory. He toured with this company around Europe and England prior to, and while, making a name for himself in various film and television productions.
Everett resides in Europe.
