A shipwreck separates Viola (Imogen Stubbs) from her twin brother, Sebastian (Steven Mackintosh). Believing him to be dead, Viola disguises herself as a boy and goes to work for Duke Orsino (Toby Stephens), whom she loves. The object of the duke's heart, Olivia (Helena Bonham Carter), does not reciprocate his feelings -- however, she falls madly for Viola, whose true gender she doesn't know. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby (Mel Smith), manipulates all of their entangled relationships.