Joseph Fiennes

Character: Will Shakespeare

Gwyneth Paltrow

Character: Viola De Lesseps

Geoffrey Rush

Character: Philip Henslowe

Tom Wilkinson

Character: Hugh Fennyman

Judi Dench

Character: Queen Elizabeth

Imelda Staunton

Character: Nurse

Colin Firth

Character: Lord Wessex

Ben Affleck

Character: Ned Alleyn

Simon Callow

Character: Tilney

Steven Beard

Character: Makepeace

Jim Carter

Character: Ralph Bashford

Rupert Everett

Character: Christopher Marlowe

Martin Clunes

Character: Richard Burbage

Tim McMullan

Character: Frees

Joe Roberts

Character: John Webster

Antony Sher

Character: Dr. Moth

Georgie Glen

Character: Lady in Waiting

Nicholas Boulton

Character: Henry Condell

Barnaby Kay

Character: Nol

Mark Williams

Character: Wabash

Jill Baker

Character: Lady De Lesseps

Nicholas Le Prevost

Character: Sir Robert De Lesseps

Rebecca Charles

Character: Chambermaid

Bob Barrett

Character: George Bryan

Simon Day

Character: Taxi boatman

Bridget McConnell

Character: Lady in Waiting

Sandra Reinton

Character: Rosaline

Jason Round

Character: Tavern Actor

Rupert Farley

Character: Barman

Adam Barker

Character: First Auditionee

Harry Gostelow

Character: Second Auditionee

Alan Cody

Character: Third Auditionee

David Curtiz

Character: John Hemmings

Gregor Truter

Character: James Hemmings

Amber Glossop

Character: Scullery Maid

Robin Davies

Character: Master Plum

Hywel Simons

Character: Servant

Roger Morlidge

Character: James Armitage

Daniel Brocklebank

Character: Sam Gosse

Mark Saban

Character: Augustine Phillips

Timothy Kightley

Character: Edward Pope

Roger Frost

Character: Second Taxi Boatman

Rachel Clarke

Character: First Whore

Lucy Speed

Character: Second Whore

John Ramm

Character: Makepeace's Neighbour

Paul Bigley

Character: Peter

Patrick Barlow

Character: Will Kempe

Steven O'Donnell

Character: Lambert

John Inman

Character: Lady Capulet in Play