Quicknation, comprehensive information and links about Stage Beauty

Stage Beauty is a 2004 romantic drama film set in the 1660s, starring Claire Danes and Billy Crudup. It was directed by Richard Eyre and written by Jeffrey Hatcher.

It follows the fortunes of and relationship between Maria (Claire Danes), one of the first actresses to perform female roles on the English stage, and Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) one of the leading male actors of these roles. Although the Maria character and the storyline is fictional, it is accurately based on the historical period (c 1660) when actresses first appeared on the English stage, and includes real historical figures such as Ned Kynaston, Samuel Pepys, Charles II and Charles II's favourite mistress, Nell Gwynne. While largely exagerated and foppish, the character representing Kynaston in this film is quite deep and full of detail and complexity, especially in his sexuality.

Most of s external scenes were shot on location in Greenwich, London, at the 17th century Greenwich Hospital (now the University of Greenwich); some scenes were also filmed in the Hospital's Painted Hall.

King Charles II: "Why shouldn't we have women on stage? After all, the French have been doing it for years."Sir Edward Hyde: "Whenever we're about to do something truly horrible, we always say that the French have been doing it for years."