By1820,EdmundKeanisthemostadmiredShakespearanactorButifhisartispeerless,hisfreelifestyleisillthoughtof,particularlybythehighsocietyKeanhasfallenpassionatelyinlovewithCountessElenadeKoefeld,thewifeoftheambassadorofDenmarkElenaloveshimtoobuthesitatestogiveupherrankinsocietyandfollowKeanOntheotherhand,Anna,arichheiresswhorefusestomarryLordMewill,thehusbandchosenbyherparents,confessesherloveforKeananddecidestobecomeanactresslikehimThearistocrats,outragedbyEdmund'sprofligateways,decidetoboycotthisperformancesandhiscareerisbrokenKeandoesnotrecoverfromsuchablowand,onastormynight,diesinElena'sarms