''England, My England'' is a 1995 British

historical film A historical drama (also period drama, period piece or just period) is a dramatic work set in the past, usually used in the context of film and television, which presents historical events and characters with varying degrees of fiction such as ...

directed by Tony Palmer and starring Michael Ball,

Simon Callow Simon Phillip Hugh Callow (born 15 June 1949) is an English actor. Known as a character actor on stage and screen, he has received numerous accolades including an Olivier Award and Screen Actors Guild Award as well as nominations for two BAFT ...

, Lucy Speed and Robert Stephens. It depicts the life of the

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and def ...

Henry Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: ; September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer of Baroque music, most remembered for his more than 100 songs; a tragic opera, Dido and Aeneas, ''Dido and Aeneas''; and his incidental music to a version o ...

, seen through the eyes of a playwright in the 1960s who is trying to write a play about him. It was written by

John Osborne John James Osborne (12 December 1929 – 24 December 1994) was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and entrepreneur, who is regarded as one of the most influential figures in post-war theatre. Born in London, he briefly worked as a jo ...

and Charles Wood.

Cast

... Charles II * Michael Ball ...

Rebecca Front Rebecca Louise Front (born 16 May 1964) is an English actress, writer and comedian. She won the 2010 BAFTA TV Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for '' The Thick of It'' (2009–2012).Jennifer Lipma"Bafta for Jewish actress Rebecca Front" ...

...

Mary II Mary II (30 April 1662 – 28 December 1694) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England, List of Scottish monarchs, Scotland, and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland with her husband, King William III and II, from 1689 until her death in 1694. Sh ...

* Lucy Speed ...

Nell Gwyn Eleanor Gwyn (also spelled Gwynn, Gwynne; 2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687) was an English people, English stage actress and celebrity figure of the Stuart Restoration, Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances ...

* Letitia Dean ... Lady Castlemaine * Nina Young ... Frances Purcell *

John Shrapnel John Morley Shrapnel (27 April 1942 – 14 February 2020) was an English actor. He is known mainly for his stage work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre in the United Kingdom and for his many television appearances. On ...

...

Samuel Pepys Samuel Pepys ( ; 23 February 1633 – 26 May 1703) was an English writer and Tories (British political party), Tory politician. He served as an official in the Navy Board and Member of Parliament (England), Member of Parliament, but is most r ...

* Robert Stephens ...

John Dryden John Dryden (; – ) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who in 1668 was appointed England's first Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom, Poet Laureate. He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration (En ...

* Terence Rigby ... Captain Henry Cooke *

Bill Kenwright William Kenwright (4 September 1945 – 23 October 2023) was an English theatre and film producer. He was also the chairman of Everton Football Club for nearly two decades, from 2004 until his death in 2023. Early life Kenwright was born in ...

... Bill * Murray Melvin ... Earl of Shaftesbury *

Corin Redgrave Corin William Redgrave (16 July 19396 April 2010) was an English actor. Early life Redgrave was born in Marylebone, London, the only son and middle child of actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson. He was educated at Westminster School and ...

... William of Orange * John Fortune ... Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon * Guy Henry ... James II * Peter Woodthorpe ... Kiffen * Edward Michie ... Young Harry * Tom Shrapnel ... Young Pelham * Antonia de Sancha ... Louise * Constantine Gregory ... Colonel Wharton * Rebecca Tremain ... Catherine of Bragança * Vernon Dobtcheff ... Dr. Spratt * Tim Newton ... Harry Purcell Snr *

Patricia Quinn Patricia Quinn, Lady Stephens (born 28 May 1944) is a Northern Irish actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Magenta in the 1975 musical comedy horror film '' The Rocky Horror Picture Show,'' and the original stage play from wh ...

... Elizabeth Purcell * David Thomas ... John Gostling * James Saxon ... Vyner * Michael John Wade ...Baron of Clifford and Chudleigh * Brook Williams ... Priest * Leslie Ashton ... Bishop * David Spinx ... Smith

References

External links

* 1995 films British historical drama films British biographical drama films 1990s biographical drama films 1990s historical drama films Films directed by Tony Palmer Films set in the 17th century Films set in the 1960s Films set in England Films about classical music and musicians Films about composers 1995 drama films Cultural depictions of Charles II of England Cultural depictions of Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland Cultural depictions of Nell Gwyn Cultural depictions of Catherine of Braganza 1990s English-language films 1990s British films Cultural depictions of James II of England Cultural depictions of Mary II Cultural depictions of William III of England English-language historical drama films English-language biographical drama films {{1990s-UK-film-stub