Trivia: Rupert Everett/Christopher Marlow 's name does not appear at any point in the credits at the end of the film. This was due to Everett's decision.
Trivia: Dame Judi Dench won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Queen Elizabeth I, even though she only had approximately 12 minutes of screen time.
Trivia: Kate Winslet turned down the lead role that eventually Gwenyth Paltrow won an Oscar for.
Trivia: Philip Henslowe's line "It's a mystery" is a clear reference to Jeffery Rush's (who played Henslowe) role as David in "Shine" (1996) who also says the same line many times.
Answer: In real life, Viola, of course, would be recognized as a female in disguise. However, in literature, film, opera, etc, it often is necessary to employ what is known as a "suspension of disbelief." That is, the author expects the reader or audience to know something is impossible, unlikely, or completely unreal, but they have to accept a certain premise in order to allow the plot to unfold. We go along with the idea that no one realizes Viola is actually a woman, so that we can enjoy the overall story.
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