 Based in the 1660 s of London s theatres, this film from director Richard Eyre (Iris), it is about the rules of gender roles in theatre production, and means to change them for everyone s benefit. Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is the homosexual cross-dressing actor who has been playing female parts in plays for years, particularly Desdemona in Othello, he also has a close relationship with a male co-actor. One day however, the rules of only men playing women could change when aspiring actress Maria (Claire Danes) auditions as Kynaston s praised role, Desdemona, and soon enough, King Charles II (Rupert Everett) decides to make the law that all female roles should be played only by women. Maria becomes a star, while Ned finds himself out of work. But after a while, Ned finds it in his nature to forgive Maria s aspiration, they may even fall in love, and Charles may proclaim women will be played by either gender.