She was the first of her kind. He was the last of his.

England, the 1660s: in the time when women's roles in live theatre are all played by men, England's celebrated leading 'lady' is Edward (Crudup) who uses all his beauty and skill to make the parts his own.

However, when king Charles II tires of the same male performers he abolishes the old laws and allows women to tread the boards while men are barred from playing female parts. Overnight Edward loses everything, until his former dresser Maria (Danes), now an actress herself, takes up the challenge of making Edward all man once more...