John Madden Director Joseph Fiennes William Shakespeare Actor Gwyneth Paltrow Viola De Lesseps Actor Geoffrey Rush Philip Henslowe Actor Judi Dench Queen Elizabeth Actor Simon Callow Tilney, Master of the Revels Actor Colin Firth Lord Wessex Actor Imelda Staunton Nurse Actor Antony Sher Dr. Moth Actor Ben Affleck Ned Alleyn Actor Tom Wilkinson Hugh Fennyman Actor Jim Carter Ralph Bashford Actor Martin Clunes Richard Burbage Actor Tom Stoppard Writer Marc Norman Writer, Producer Donna Gigliotti Producer David Parfitt Producer Harvey Weinstein Producer Edward Zwick Producer Julie Goldstein Executive Producer Bob Weinstein Executive Producer Richard Greatrex Cinematographer David Gamble Film Editing Stephen Warbeck Original Music Martin Childs Production Design Steven Lawrence Art Director Mark Raggett Supervising Art Direction Jill Quertier Set Decoration Sandy Powell Costume Design Humberto Cornejo Costume Design Michelle Guish Casting Kerry Barden Casting Suzanne Crowley Casting Billy Hopkins Casting