The same year , Dench reteamed with director John Madden to film Shakespeare in Love ( 1998 ) , a romantic comedy - drama that depicts a love affair involving playwright William Shakespeare , played by Joseph Fiennes .
Director was writing the play Romeo and Juliet .
The same year , Dench reteamed with director John Madden to film Shakespeare in Love ( 1998 ) , a romantic comedy - drama that depicts a love affair involving playwright William Shakespeare , played by Joseph Fiennes , while he was writing the play Romeo and Juliet .