Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) is a world-renowned actor, famous for his acting of women. His dresser Maria (Claire Danes) wishes very much to be on stage but is stopped from doing so by a Puritan law. Instead, she stars in a nearby tavern under a fake name. As she becomes famous, Sir Charles Sedley (Richard Griffiths), offers to be her patron. Nell Gwynne (Zoe Tapper), overhears Kynaston complaining over women on stage and seduces Charles into stopping men from playing female roles. Because of this, Kynaston loses his lover, George Villiars (Ben Chaplin), and unable to get rid of his femininity, he begins singing songs in music halls, while Maria's becomes successful. When Maria begins acting for the king, she asks Kynaston to help her. Kynaston agrees, but insists on replacing the role of the protagonist. In the process, he finds he can successfully potray male characters as well, while Maria becomes a famous theatrical sensation.