124 minutes
8/28/1981
In this story-within-a-story, Anna is an actress starring opposite Mike in a period piece about the forbidden love between their respective characters, Sarah and Charles. Both actors are involved in serious relationships, but the passionate nature of the script leads to an off-camera love affair as well. While attempting to maintain their composure and professionalism, Anna and Mike struggle to come to terms with their infidelity.
Meryl Streep
as Sarah / Anna
Jeremy Irons
as Charles Henry Smithson / Mike
Hilton McRae
as Sam
Lynsey Baxter
as Ernestina
Emily Morgan
as Mary
Penelope Wilton
as Sonia
Jean Faulds
as Cook
Charlotte Mitchell
as Mrs. Tranter
Peter Vaughan
as Mr. Freeman
Colin Jeavons
as Vicar
Liz Smith
as Mrs. Fairley
Patience Collier
as Mrs. Poulteney
John Barrett
as Dairyman
Leo McKern
as Dr. Grogan
Arabella Weir
as Girl on Undercliff
Ben Forster
as Boy on Undercliff
Richard Griffiths
as Sir Tom
David Warner
as Murphy
Catherine Willmer
as Dr. Grogan's Housekeeper
Anthony Langdon
as Asylum Keeper
Edward Duke
as Nathaniel
Graham Fletcher-Cook
as Delivery Boy
Richard Hope
as 3rd Assistant
Michael Elwyn
as Montague
Toni Palmer
as Mrs Endicott
Cecily Hobbs
as Betty Anne
Doreen Mantle
as Lady on the Train
Alun Armstrong
as Grimes
Gérard Falconetti
as Davide
Joanna Joseph
as Lizzie
Jude Alderson
as Red Haired Prostitute
Cora Kinnaird
as 2nd Prostitute
Orlando Fraser
as Tom Elliott
Fredrika Morton
as Girl
Alice Maschler
as 2nd Girl