The movie "An Ideal Husband" is based upon the stage play written by Oscar Wilde. The story revolves Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy Northam), a man considered by all to be the ideal husband as he is a man of integrity, success, and is passionately in love with his wife, Lady Gertrude Chiltern (Cate Blanchett). However, an indiscretion from his past could jeopardize all that he knows and loves upon the arrival of a dangerously well-informed woman, and Lady Gertrude's old-school rival, Mrs. Laura Cheveley (Julianne Moore). Mrs. Cheveley blackmails Sir Robert with incriminating information at which point Sir Robert immediately asks for assistance from his notoriously lazy and selfish friend Lord Arthur Goring (Rupert Everett). All of these turn of events are viewed by Sir Robert's free spirited sister, Miss Mabel Chiltern (Minnie Driver), who is determined to never marry as the concept of an ideal husband cannot exist.