Shakespeare in Love (1998)

About Shakespeare in Love

Released in 1998, the historical romantic comedy-drama "Shakespeare in Love" imagines a love affair between playwright William Shakespeare, while he was writing Romeo and Juliet, and Viola de Lesseps, an ardent admirer of his works. As Shakespeare struggles with his play, he encounters writer's block and is unable to proceed until he finds his muse, Viola. Their ill-fated love story unfolds very much like the tragic play he is writing.

Making / Production

"Shakespeare in Love" was co-written by Marc Norman and renowned playwright Tom Stoppard, who used Shakespeare's life and his plays as inspiration. The movie was directed by John Madden, produced by David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick and Marc Norman.

Actors

• Joseph Fiennes as William Shakespeare: Portraying Shakespeare in the throes of writing Romeo and Juliet, Fiennes captured the essence of a struggling, passionate artist.
• Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola De Lesseps: In an Oscar-winning performance, Paltrow played the love-struck Viola with grace and emotional depth.
• Geoffrey Rush as Philip Henslowe: Proprietor of the Rose Theatre, Rush delivered an engaging portrayal of a man caught between art and commerce.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The role of Queen Elizabeth I was written specifically with Judi Dench in mind.
• Despite numerous historical inaccuracies, the film was adored by audiences and critics alike.

Awards

"Shakespeare in Love" was widely honored, and won seven out of its thirteen Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Gwyneth Paltrow, Best Supporting Actress for Judi Dench, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Costume Design.

Quotes

• "I will have poetry in my life. And adventure. And love. Love above all." - Viola De Lesseps
• "You will never age for me, nor fade, nor die." - William Shakespeare

Music, Soundtrack

• The original score was by Stephen Warbeck, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score.
• The theme is a recurring melody that captures the intense emotions of the film.