41 Shakespeare In Love Trivia Questions & Answers

Answer: Tom Stoppard

"Shakespeare in Love" won seven Academy awards including Best Screenplay Award. Author Tom Stoppard, a British writer of Czech origin, has also written a wealth of works for radio, TV, the theatre and film. He has not always been credited for his film writing, as Stephen Spielberg acknowledged in relation to "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade". He also worked on the film "Sleepy Hollow" and it is rumoured that he worked uncredited on "Revenge of the Sith" in the "Star Wars" series of films. He was awarded a Knighthood for his work in 1997.

Answer: Will Shakespeare

This quote is from the scene where Viola is being taken by Lord Wessex to be presented at court, and evaluated by the queen. It is delivered by Will, dressed as Willemina, Viola's "country cousin", who doesn't want her to leave him to be with Wessex. I laugh out loud every time I watch this scene! Joseph Fiennes is adorable as the suffering poet and playright!

Answer: 4

"Romeo and Juliet" is the actual play performed. Ned Allen says that he was "Henry the Sixth", John Webster says that they cut his head off in "Titus Andronicus" and at the end of the film, Will is commissioned to write a comedy for "Twelfth Night". "Moneylender Reveng'd", "Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter", "Romeo and Rosalind" and "One Gentlemen of Verona" do not count. "Moneylender Reveng'd" is attributed to, but not a real title of, "The Merchant of Venice". "Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter" and "Romeo and Rosalind" were made up for the film, to fit in with the story of Shakespeare's creation of "Romeo and Juliet". Finally, Shakespeare's play is entitled "Two Gentlemen of Verona". He only says the name "One Gentleman of Verona" because Henslowe has only half paid him for the play.

Answer: "Words, Words, Words"

This line was uttered in "Hamlet" by Hamlet, when asked what he was reading.

Answer: Romeo

Viola had to dress up as a boy to be in the play because women were not allowed to act on stage during that time.

Answer: Joseph Fiennes

Joseph Fiennes is the younger brother of actor Ralph Fiennes. He received BAFTA and Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance in "Shakespeare in Love". He has also appeared in the films "Elizabeth" and "Enemy at the Gates" and more recently in Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale".

Answer: John Webster

This quote is near the end of the film when the revealed Queen Elizabeth asks John Webster what he liked about the play. The real John Webster was an actual writer who came along after Shakespeare's time; he is notorious for his fascination with gory and macabre tales. Here he is portrayed as a kid who is poor, but honest and without the benefit of hygiene, seeming to delight in and profit from others' misfortunes.

Answer: "I have lost my gift."

To this she replies "You left it in my bed. Come to look for it again."

Answer: Christopher Marlowe

Will used the name of another play writer so Lord Wessex would not know who he really was.

Answer: Mark Williams

Mark Williams has also has appeared in many TV shows including "Dr Who", "Red Dwarf", "The Fast Show" and as the lead in the "Father Brown" detective series. He played Arthur Weasley in the "Harry Potter" series of films.

Answer: Mr. Henslowe

Mr. Henslowe is Shakespeare's friend and co-partner in the Rose Theater. In the movie, he's constantly suffering because of the wilful behaviour of William Shakespeare, as he creates the masterpiece of "Romeo and Juliet". This line recurs throughout the film and is proof that Mr. Henslowe isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Somehow he manages to skirt the issues and sail off clean every time! Geoffrey Rush is awesome in this role!

Answer: 1800

When calculating how much money he can make from the performance, Mr Fennyman says: "500 groundlings at tuppence a head, 400 backsides at threepence... 2 perfomances for safety". Hence, 1800 "tickets" are expected to be sold to the two performances.
He also comments that at each performance 200 people will buy cushions for an extra penny. Having made his calculations, his assistant, Mr Frieze agrees that he will make "20 pounds, to the penny".

Answer: Philip Henslowe

Philip Henslowe's character was played by Australian actor Geoffrey Rush, who is also known for playing Captain Barbossa in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films, and who won an academy award for his role in the movie "Shine". Henslowe's character is based on a historical character of the same name who ran a rival theatre company to the one Shakespeare wrote for.

Answer: Queen Elizabeth

Dame Judi Dench won an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as Queen Elizabeth in this movie. She is one of my favorite characters. Here she is describing Viola to Lord Wessex at court. Wessex is astounded and angered. He believes Christopher Marlowe (whom William claimed to be when they met) is involved. Dame Judi delivers this line with such sarcasm and royal dignity that who could doubt she knows her subjects? She is a true classic!

Answer: Moth

You see his title, "Doctor Moth" on one of the many chalkboards outside his office. Others include "Priest of Psyche" and "Interpreter of Dreams". Will procures a bangle from Dr Moth, which he proceeds to give to Rosalind at Whitehall. It is this bangle that ends up getting him involved in the brawl with Burbage, which inspires the fight with Tybalt in the actual play.

Answer: Henslowe

Henslowe then replies "Rosaline? You mean Ethel!" He mistakenly corrects people many times in this manner throughout the movie.

Answer: 50 pounds

The bet was whether or not a play could show what love is really like. 'Romeo and Juliet' was the play that showed it.

Answer: Viola

Gwyneth Paltrow played the fictional female lead, Viola De Lesseps, who (in the film story) inspired Shakespeare in writing "Romeo and Juliet" and with whom he fell in love.

Answer: Will Shakespeare

Will Shakespeare says this when a play he has written is performed for Queen Elizabeth, and there is a person coughing during the dramatic scenes. Little does he know that the love of his life decides to pursue a part in his new play as a result of seeing this production.

Answer: Pink

Although most Elizabethan brothels would not have had the funds to paint their walls pink, this is nonetheless their colour in the movie. This was a deliberate choice by the director, again putting a modern spin on the story.

Answer: Judi Dench

Even though Mrs. Dench was on screen for approximately only 10-15 minutes, this role won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Answer: Women weren't allowed to work in the theatre at that time.

The first appearance of actresses on the English stage was in 1629 (13 years after the death of Shakespeare) and after that they started to appear sporadically. They were booed at first, and their acceptance onstage came only gradually.

Answer: Viola De Lesseps

This is after the scene between Will and Viola after he realizes Thomas Kent is Viola, the love of his life. It follows the love scene, (Viola's "first try") which was so realistic...I get fluttery just thinking of it!

Answer: "Good title"

Will compliments people for good names and titles several times throughout the movie.