

17/09/1993
Set halfway through the 17th century, a church play is performed for the benefit of the young aristocrat Cosimo. In the play, a grotesque old woman gives birth to a beautiful baby boy. The child's older sister is quick to exploit the situation, selling blessings from the baby, and even claiming she's the true mother by virgin birth. However, when she attempts to seduce the bishop's son, the Church exacts a terrible revenge.

Julia Ormond
as The Daughter

Ralph Fiennes
as The Bishop's Son

Philip Stone
as The Bishop

Jonathan Lacey
as Cosimo Medici

Don Henderson
as The Father Confessor

Celia Gregory
as The Mother Superior

Jeff Nuttall
as The Major Domo

Jessica Hynes
as The First Midwife (as Jessica Stevenson)

Kathryn Hunter
as The Second Midwife

Gabrielle Reidy
as The Third Midwife

Frank Egerton
as The Prompter

Phelim McDermott
as The First Tutor

Tony Vogel
as The Father

Tatiana Strauss
as The First Nun

Louisa Milwood-Haigh
as The Second Nun

Anna Nieland
as The Wetnurse

Graham Valentine
as Famine

Diana van Kolck
as The Mother

Leslie Cuss
as The Second Tutor

Rien Kroon
as The Chaplain

Jan Sepers
as Carpaccio

Nils Dorando
as The Baby of Mâcon

Richard Blair
as The First Soldier

Tony Dunham
as The Second Soldier

Humphrey Sallons
as Cosimo's Servant

Dennis Rudge
as Entourage Servant

Hans Bosch
as Entourage Servant

Sjoerd Ghijssen
as Entourage Servant

Michiel Riedijk
as Entourage Servant

Bert Sevenhuijsen
as The Deacon

John Hartnett
as Cynical Auction Bidder (uncredited)

Bastian Pastewka
as Laborer (uncredited)

Dela Maria Vaags
as Choir Farmer's Wives (uncredited)
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