By1820,EdmundKeanisthemostadmiredShakespearanactor.Butifhisartispeerless,hisfreelifestyleisillthoughtof,particularlybythehighsociety.KeanhasfallenpassionatelyinlovewithCountessElenadeKoefeld,thewifeoftheambassadorofDenmark.ElenaloveshimtoobuthesitatestogiveupherrankinsocietyandfollowKean.Ontheotherhand,Anna,arichheiresswhorefusestomarryLordMewill,thehusbandchosenbyherparents,confessesherloveforKeananddecidestobecomeanactresslikehim...Thearistocrats,outragedbyEdmund'sprofligateways,decidetoboycotthisperformancesandhiscareerisbroken.Keandoesnotrecoverfromsuchablowand,onastormynight,diesinElena'sarms.