Hedda is a tasteful, literate cinematic translation of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. Glenda Jackson plays Hedda, the restless, free-spirited daughter of a Norwegian military officer. Hedda is married to George Tesman (Timothy West), a dull professor whom she does not love. Bored with her lot, Hedda begins playing with the life of the trusting Thea Elvstead (Jennie Linden) and pushes her former love, the poetic Eilert Lovborg (Patrick Stewart), into attempting suicide. Hedda's machinations come to naught when she is threatened with exposure by the lascivious Judge Brack (Peter Eyre); the judge agrees to keep mum if Hedda will become his mistress.