In the guise of a humble butler, Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) leads a double life, harboring secret desires that remain hidden behind the facade of his male persona. When a handsome painter, Hand (Iain Glen), arrives at the hotel where Nobbs works, the maid's attraction becomes increasingly difficult to suppress. As their encounters become more frequent and intimate, Nobbs struggles with his identity and the societal norms that threaten to expose his true self.