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Cast
Rupert Graves
as William Shakespeare
Tom Sturridge
as William Herbert
Indira Varma
as Lucie "The dark lady"
Zoë Wanamaker
as Countess of Pembroke
Anna Chancellor
as Anne Hathaway
Andrew Tiernan
as Ben Jonson
Nicky Henson
as John Shakespeare
Alan Williams
as George Wilkin
Nicholas Rowe
as Richard Burbage
Tom Hiddleston
as John Hall
Movie Info & Details
Release Year2005
Runtime1h 26m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationNR
GenresDrama, TV Movie, History
Votes10
DirectorJohn McKay
WritersWilliam Boyd
TypeFeature Film
Rating5.0 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsA Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets
About A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets
In 1609, William Shakespeare published a collection of 154 sonnets, creating what is arguably the greatest lyric sequence in English literature - and at the center of this masterpiece lies a mystery that has endured for centuries. What are the identities of “the young man” and “the dark lady” to whom all but two of the sonnets allude? This moving performance brings to life the gritty reality of Shakespeare’s England, bits of the Bard’s plays and poems, and the consummate poet and dramatist himself as it exposes these personages unseen but so keenly felt in Shakespeare’s sonnets and in his life. Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma, Anna Chancellor, and Zoë Wanamaker star. Contains mature themes and explicit language. Some content may be objectionable. Produced by the Open University.
Directed by John McKay, A Waste of Shame: The Mystery of Shakespeare and His Sonnets leans on a strong ensemble — Rupert Graves, Tom Sturridge, Indira Varma — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2005.
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