Watch Stage Beauty (2004) Free Online

Release Date: 2004

Cast: Ben Chaplin, Claire Danes, Rupert Everett, Tom Hollander, Richard Griffiths, Edward Fox, Tom Wilkinson, Zoe Tapper, Hugh Bonneville, Alice Eve, Billy Crudup

Categories: Movies, LGBT, Romantic comedy, Comedy of manners, Comedy-drama, Comedy, Period piece, Romantic drama, Romance Film

Stage Beauty is a 2004 British-American-German romantic period drama directed by Richard Eyre. The screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher is based on his play Compleat Female Stage Beauty, which was inspired by references to 17th century actor Edward Kynaston made in the detailed private diary kept by Samuel Pepys. Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is one of the leading actors of his day, famed for his portrayal of female characters, particularly Desdemona in Othello. His loyal dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), longs to perform on stage but is forbidden to do so by a law enacted by the Puritans prior to the... MORE

Stage Beauty is a 2004 British-American-German romantic period drama directed by Richard Eyre. The screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher is based on his play Compleat Female Stage Beauty, which was inspired by references to 17th century actor Edward Kynaston made in the detailed private diary kept by Samuel Pepys. Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is one of the leading actors of his day, famed for his portrayal of female characters, particularly Desdemona in Othello. His loyal dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), longs to perform on stage but is forbidden to do so by a law enacted by the Puritans prior to the return of the House of Stuart to the throne. She fulfills her desire by appearing in plays presented in a local tavern under the name Margaret Hughes. Word of her performances spread and the novelty of a woman on stage draws the attention of Sir Charles Sedley (Richard Griffiths), who offers to be her patron, and eventually the attention of King Charles II (Rupert Everett) himself. Kynaston's rant against allowing women on stage is overheard by Nell Gwynn (Zoe Tapper), an aspiring actress and Charles II's mistress, and she literally seduces Charles into banning men from playing female roles. As a LESS