According to Jeremy Giltzer, Hollywood has "turned to history to create inspired moments of action, drama, and patriotism." It has "provided the movies with some of the most climatic moments and colorful characters imaginable," while making complicated issues of the past understandable on a modern personal level. "But Hollywood changes and manipulates history in order to clarify and condense it," (Giltzer). But Shakepeareian expert Stephanie Cowell finds that, while entertaining, the film "Shakespeare In Love" realistically portrays an accurate description of life in Elizabethan times. The characters, big and small, the wardrobe, and the roles of women found in the movie can all be found in historical textbooks around the world (Cowell).
             The first and most important of these characters in the film is William Shakespeare, played by Joseph Feinnes (Shakespeare), a playwright who was borm of the lower class, the son of a glover (Singman 19). Like the movie, Shakespeare began his rough theatrical career in London, England (Gardiner 688). While writting plays, he occansionally acted in some of his own, as well as some of his peers' works, until eventually becoming a member of the Chamberlain's Men acting company in 1594 (Wagner 274). In the film, which is set in 1593, Shakespeare is very comfortable with the Chamberlain's Men troupe, who actually perform the play, but is not yet a member. He also acts in his own play after a problem occurs with one of his actors (Shakespeare).
             Queen Elizabeth, played by Judi Dench, another character in the story and real-life icon, is seen greatly respected by her sujects in the film (Shakespeare). Elizabeth actually was, according to Time-Life Books, sometimes viewed as a "goddess" by her subjects (42-3). Although she had 'a tempestuous personality with sunshine and heavy showers," (Cannon 343), she was alwa...