
Stage Beauty
She was the first of her kind. He was the last of his.
2004 en 106 minutes
Rating: 6.7
Plot
Humble Maria, who outfits top London theater star Ned Kynaston, takes none of the credit for the male actor's success at playing women. And because this is the 17th century, Maria, like other females, is prohibited from pursuing her dream of acting. But when powerful people support her, King Charles II lifts the ban on female stage performers. And just as Maria aided Ned, she needs his help to learn her new profession.
Trailer
Cast

Claire Danes
Maria

Billy Crudup
Ned Kynaston

Derek Hutchinson
Stage Manager

Mark Letheren
Male Emelia/Dickie

Tom Wilkinson
Betterton

Ben Chaplin
George Villiars, Duke of Buckingham

Hugh Bonneville
Samuel Pepys

Fenella Woolgar
Lady Meresvale

Richard Griffiths
Sir Charles Sedley

Clare Higgins
Mistress Revels

Rupert Everett
King Charles II

Tom Hollander
Sir Peter Lely

Edward Fox
Sir Edward Hyde

Jack Kempton
Call Boy

David Westhead
Harry

Nick Barber
Nick

Stephen Marcus
Thomas Cockerell

Zoë Tapper
Nell Gwynn

Isabella Calthorpe
Lady Jane Bellamy

Alice Eve
Miss Frayne