Shakespeare in Love
In 1998's Shakespeare in Love, Firth’s romantic charm as Lord Wessex paired beautifully with Gwyneth Paltrow (Viola De Lesseps) in a whimsical reimagining of the Bard’s early life.
The film’s Best Picture award win at the 1999 Oscars underscored the era’s taste for literary-inflected whimsy - and Firth’s undeniable charisma.
