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London, 1937: Mrs Laura Henderson (Judi Dench), a woman of wealth and connections, has just buried her beloved husband and finds herself widowed, alone... and bored! Her friends suggest she take up a hobby and, to their surprise, she buys the derelict Windmill Theatre in London’s West End. She appoints famous impresario Vivian Van Damm (Bob Hoskins) as theatre manager to produce a variety show for the war torn West End that will lift the hearts and spirits of the local community. The Windmill Theatre, under the direction of the eccentric Mrs Henderson, is an instant success but, when business begins to falter as the variety scene expands and other establishments copy their idea of the non-stop revue, they must come up with a new idea to win the crowds back. Vivian is shocked by the outrageous and provocative solution Mrs Henderson suggests – to put nude girls on the stage! Inspired by the French play houses, Mrs Henderson sees it as the perfect way to entertain and stimulate the troops at this difficult time, to take their minds off their impending duties... and to make her theatre successful again! Brought to it’s knees by war, Mrs. Henderson brings a nation to it’s feet in applause. But as the bombing of London begins in earnest, the government threatens to close the Windmill and Mrs Henderson’s fighting spirit is revealed as she battles to save her theatre and all the hard work that has been put into making it a success. But with determination, a fighting spirit and a little too much interference, comes tragedy and heartbreak for Mrs Henderson and her dreams. With Vivian Van Damm now her fiercest opponent since he banned her from her own theatre, Mrs Henderson must use all of her imagination, cunning and most of all, her mischievous nature, to charm her way back in.
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