Kenneth Branagh as William Shakespeare

Judi Dench as Anne Shakespeare

Ian McKellen as Earl of Southampton

Kathryn Wilder as Judith Shakespeare

Lydia Wilson as Susanna Hall

Hadley Fraser as John Hall

Jack Colgrave Hirst as Tom Quiney

John Dagleish as Rafe Smith

Sean Foley as John Lane

Gerard Horan as Ben Jonson

Jimmy Yuill as Edward Woolmer

Alex Macqueen as Sir Thomas Lucy

Eleanor de Rohan as Margaret Wheeler

Nonso Anozie as Actor

Lolita Chakrabarti as Lena

Darryl Clark as Mr. Wheeler

Doug Colling as Douglas

Clara Duczmal as Elizabeth Hall

Phil Dunster as Harry

Freya Durkan as Young Judith Shakespeare

Sam Ellis as Hamnet Shakespeare

Matt Jessup as Frank

Harry Lister Smith as Jack Cade

Hamish McColl as Judge

Sabi Perez as Maria

Michael Rouse as Francis Collins

Penny Ryder as Mrs. Wheeler

Kate Tydman as Lady Thomas Lucy

Ian Hearnshaw as Townsman

Oliver Simms as Wedding Guest (uncredited)