History Trivia / ShakespeareInLove

* UncreditedRole: No conclusive evidence exists as to why Creator/RupertEverett was uncredited for his role as Christopher Marlowe. However, regarding his performance, Everett was quoted by US Weekly as saying "I was very, very bad in it - I was a bundle of f---ing hideous nerves".

** Creator/GwynethPaltrow also initially turned the role of Viola down, as she was going through a bad break-up and didn't want to work. Miramax producer Paul Webster eventually convinced her to take the role. She saw the script at Creator/WinonaRyder's office table in 1997, and asked her if she could read it. Paltrow got the part, without telling Ryder she was going to try for it. The former friends haven't been friends since, because of Paltrow's selfishness, later winning an Oscar for the part.

* LifeImitatesArt: Colin Firth's character has the title "Earl of Wessex", [[NoCelebritiesWereHarmed non-existent at the times the film was either set or written]] (or any time since the Norman Invasion, in fact). When Prince Edward was offered a title on getting married in 1999, he asked to have this title reinstated for him, [[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-wedding/8196402/Royal-wedding-Prince-William-asks-the-Queen-not-to-make-him-a-duke.html reportedly because he saw this film]] and liked the sound of it.
* TheOtherMarty: Back when the film was first greenlit (see below) Simon Callow was cast as Henslowe. When the film finally entered production, Creator/GeoffreyRush had become Henslowe and Simon was given the smaller role of Tilney.

** Creator/ColinFirth in a period romantic comedy... as the PrinceCharmless whom you ''don't'' want the heroine to end up with.

* SavedFromDevelopmentHell: Marc Norman conceived the idea of the movie in 1988. The movie was released ten years later.

** The film was originally greenlit as a Creator/JuliaRoberts vehicle back in the early 90s. Julia flew out to the UK to try and convince Creator/DanielDayLewis to take the role of Shakespeare. He opted to do ''Film/InTheNameOfTheFather'' instead, and the project was shelved because no one could find a suitable alternative.

** The film was originally greenlit as a Creator/JuliaRoberts vehicle back in the early 90s. Julia flew out to the UK to try and convince Creator/DanielDayLewis to take the role of Shakespeare. He opted to do ''Film/InTheNameOfTheFather'' instead, and the project was shelved because no one could find a suitable alternative. ** Creator/RussellCrowe was offered the role of Shakespeare but refused to sign a four-picture deal with Miramax. Creator/KennethBranagh, Creator/RalphFiennes, Creator/MelGibson, Creator/HughGrant, Creator/PaulMcGann and Creator/JudeLaw were also considered.

* AFIS100Years100Passions: #50

* UsefulNotes/BFITop100BritishFilms: #49

** The film was originally greenlit as a Creator/JuliaRoberts vehicle back in the early 90s. Julia flew out to the UK to try and convince Creator/DanielDayLewis to take the role of Shakespeare. He opted to do ''Film/InTheNameOfTheFather'' instead, and the project was shelved because no one could find a suitable alternative. Creator/KennethBranagh and Creator/JudeLaw were also considered.
** Creator/KateWinslet turned down the role of Viola to work on Jane Campion's ''Holy Smoke'' instead. Creator/RussellCrowe was offered the role of Shakespeare but refused to sign a four-picture deal with Miramax. Other candidates included Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/JodieFoster, Creator/DarylHannah, Creator/HelenHunt, Creator/AshleyJudd, Creator/NicoleKidman, Creator/DianeLane, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/MegRyan, Creator/SigourneyWeaver, and Creator/RobinWright.

* AllStarCast: The film features a line-up of very accomplished British theatre actors - Creator/JosephFiennes, Creator/JudiDench, Creator/ImeldaStaunton, Simon Callow, Creator/MartinClunes, Creator/RupertEverett among others. There are also film stars such as Creator/BenAffleck, Creator/ColinFirth and Tom Wilkinson. Retroactively for Creator/GwynethPaltrow, see below.

** Harvey Weinstein asked Creator/BenAffleck to play UsefulNotes/WilliamShakespeare, but he declined, and played Edward Alleyn instead.

* RoleEndingMisdemanor: Creator/RobertLindsay lost out on a part because he had previously confronted producer Harvey Weinstein over his behaviour on ''Film/StrikeItRich''.

* AllStarCast: The film features a line-up of very accomplished British theatre actors - Creator/JosephFiennes, Creator/JudiDench, Creator/ImeldaStaunton, Simon Callow, Martin Clunes, Creator/RupertEverett among others. There are also film stars such as Creator/BenAffleck, Creator/ColinFirth and Tom Wilkinson. Retroactively for Creator/GwynethPaltrow, see below.

* AllStarCast: The film features a line-up of very accomplished British theatre actors - Creator/JosephFiennes, Creator/JudiDench, Creator/ImeldaStaunton, Simon Callow, Martin Clunes, Rupert Everett among others. There are also film stars such as Creator/BenAffleck, Creator/ColinFirth and Tom Wilkinson. Retroactively for Creator/GwynethPaltrow, see below.

* HypeBacklash: Because of the AwardSnub, some think this film is overrated and shouldn't have won over SavingPrivateRyan at the Oscars.

* UncreditedRole: No conclusive evidence exists as to why Rupert Everett was uncredited for his role as Christopher Marlowe. However, regarding his performance, Everett was quoted by US Weekly as saying "I was very, very bad in it - I was a bundle of f---ing hideous nerves".

** Creator/KateWinslet turned down the role of Viola to work on Jane Campion's ''Holy Smoke'' instead. Creator/RussellCrowe was offered the role of Shakespeare but refused to sign a four-picture deal with Miramax. Other candidates included Creator/RosannaArquette, Creator/KimBasinger, Creator/JodieFoster, Creator/DarylHannah, Creator/HelenHunt, Creator/AshleyJudd, Creator/NicoleKidman, Creator/DianeLane, Creator/MichellePfeiffer, Creator/MegRyan, and Creator/SigourneyWeaver.

* ActorAllusion: Queen Elizabeth shares a brief affectionate moment with Will, who is played by Joseph Fiennes. The same year he had also starred as the Queen's lover in ''{{Film/Elizabeth}}'', which this film ended up competing against at the Oscars.

* CastingGag:
** Creator/BenAffleck has a minor role, playing a big-name actor who is tricked into taking a minor role.
--> '''Shakespeare:''' You, sir, are a gentleman.
--> '''Alleyn:''' And you, sir, are a Warwickshire shithouse.
** Imelda Staunton plays Viola's nurse. Her husband Jim Carter plays the actor who plays the nurse in ''Romeo & Juliet'' - who is based on Staunton's character.

** The film was originally greenlit as a Creator/JuliaRoberts vehicle back in the early 90s. Julia flew out to the UK to try and convince Creator/DanielDayLewis to take the role of Shakespeare. He opted to do ''Film/InTheNameOfTheFather'' instead, and the project was shelved because no one could find a suitable alternative.
** Creator/KateWinslet turned down the role of Viola to work on Jane Campion's ''Holy Smoke'' instead. Creator/RussellCrowe was offered the role of Shakespeare but refused to sign a four-picture deal with Miramax.
** Creator/GwynethPaltrow also initially turned the role of Viola down, as she was going through a bad break-up and didn't want to work. Miramax producer Paul Webster eventually convinced her to take the role.
** After initial test screenings, the film was heavily re-edited. The scene in the punt was re-shot to make it more emotional, and some lines had to be re-recorded to make it clearer why Viola had to marry Wessex. The ending also had to be re-shot several times before they were happy.

* RealLifeRelative: Husband and wife team of Jim Carter (Ralph Bashford) and Imelda Staunton (Nurse).
* RomanceOnTheSet: Creator/GwynethPaltrow and Creator/BenAffleck were dating at the time, Ben taking the role in order to be near her.

* AllStarCast: The film features a line-up of very accomplished British theatre actors - Joseph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Imelda Staunton, Simon Callow, Martin Clunes, Rupert Everett among others. There are also film stars such as Ben Affleck, Colin Firth and Tom Wilkinson. Retroactively for Gwyneth Paltrow, see below.

** Ben Affleck has a minor role, playing a big-name actor who is tricked into taking a minor role.

* FakeBrit: Australian actor Geoffrey Rush dons a cockney accent to play Philip Henslowe. Gwyneth Paltrow likewise does a near-flawless English accent as Viola. Ben Affleck too, or as he puts it "I was the only person in the cast who hadn't been knighted."

* TheOtherMarty: Back when the film was first greenlit (see below) Simon Callow was cast as Henslowe. When the film finally entered production, Geoffrey Rush had become Henslowe and Simon was given the smaller role of Tilney.

* RomanceOnTheSet: Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck were dating at the time, Ben taking the role in order to be near her.

** Colin Firth in a period romantic comedy... as the PrinceCharmless whom you ''don't'' want the heroine to end up with.
** There's also Ben Affleck in an Elizabethan period piece, playing a pompous flamboyant actor.

** Gwyneth Paltrow had been making headway with notable performances in ''{{Film/Seven}}'' and ''{{Literature/Emma}}'' but her Oscar winning performance in this really solidified her as a star.
** Defied to an extent by Joseph Fiennes. After the double successes of this and ''{{Film/Elizabeth}}'' he was offered many different roles but turned them down to focus on theatre work.

** Kate Winslet turned down the role of Viola to work on Jane Campion's ''Holy Smoke'' instead. Russel Crowe was offered the role of Shakespeare but refused to sign a four-picture deal with Miramax.
** Gwyneth Paltrow also initially turned the role of Viola down, as she was going through a bad break-up and didn't want to work. Miramax producer Paul Webster eventually convinced her to take the role.

* CastingGag: Ben Affleck has a minor role, playing a big-name actor who is tricked into taking a minor role.

* FakeBrit: The Australian Geoffrey Rush, American Ben Affleck and American Gwyneth Paltrow, among others.

* PlayingAgainstType: Colin Firth in a period romantic comedy... as the PrinceCharmless whom you ''don't'' want the heroine to end up with.
* StarMakingRole: If you didn't know about Gwyneth Paltrow before, you did after it came out.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** Film/HarryPotter's Arthur Weasley.
** [[PrideAndPrejudice Mr. Darcy]] is an evil husband!? ... and he even wears [[Film/GirlWithAPearlEarring a pearl earring...]]
** [[Film/BatmanBegins Carmine Falcone]] tortures [[PiratesOfTheCaribbean Captain Barbossa]] in order to get him to pay his debts.
** Before [[DowntonAbbey Carson]] became a [[Film/TheGoldenCompass Gyptian boat king,]] or a butler, he was an actor and dressed up as nursemaid.
--> '''Ralph''': "I was a pirate king, now I'm a nurse. That's funny."
** Series/DocMartin is Shakespeare's rival.
** [[Film/HarryPotter Dolores Umbridge]] is Viola's nurse.

* StarMakingRole: If you didn't know about Gwyneth Paltrow before, you did after it came out.

** [[PrideAndPrejudice Mr. Darcy]] is an evil husband!? ... and he even wears [[GirlWithAPearlEarring a pearl earring...]]

** [[PrideAndPrejudice Mr. Darcy]] is an evil husband!?

** DocMartin is Shakespeare's rival.

** Before [[DowntonAbbey Carson]] became a butler, he was an actor and dressed up as old women.

* RealLifeRelative: Husband and wife team of Jim Carter (Ralph Bashford) and Imelda Staunton (Nurse).