Elizabeth is a
1998The year 1998 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...
film loosely based on the early reign of
Queen Elizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called the Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. The film was written by
Michael HirstMichael Hirst is a British screenwriter, best known for his films Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age .Hirst is head writer, creator and executive producer of the Showtime television Drama Series The Tudors which first began production in 2007.-External links:* at United Agents...
and directed by
Shekhar KapurShekhar Kapur is an Indian film director and producer. He is a critically acclaimed director, rose to popularity with the movie, Bandit Queen...
. It stars
Cate BlanchettCatherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress and theatre director. She has won multiple acting awards, most notably two SAGs, two Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTAs, an Academy Award, as well as the Volpi Cup at 64th Venice International Film Festival.Blanchett came to international...
,
Geoffrey RushGeoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor. He moved to Melbourne in the early 1990s via Brisbane and Sydney and currently lives in the suburb of Camberwell, Victoria...
,
Joseph FiennesJoseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English film and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayals of William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates, Martin Luther in Luther, and Mark Benford in the 2009 TV...
,
Christopher EcclestonChristopher Eccleston is an English stage, film and television actor. His films include Shallow Grave, Elizabeth, 28 Days Later, Gone in 60 Seconds and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...
, and
Richard AttenboroughRichard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE is an English actor, director, producer, and entrepreneur. Attenborough has won two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes...
. It was the final film of acclaimed British actor
Sir John GielgudSir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor/director/producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
. It also stars 12-year-old
Lily AllenLily Rose Beatrice Allen is an English recording artist, talk show host and actress. The daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen, she had a challenging childhood, without a stable residence and had been a pupil in thirteen different school institutions until the...
as a
lady in waitingLady in Waiting is an album by American southern rock band Outlaws, released in 1976. -Track listing:#"Breaker-Breaker" – 2:59#"South Carolina" – 3:05#"Ain't So Bad" – 3:48...
, Manchester United legend
Eric CantonaEric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French former footballer of the late 1980s and 1990s, turned actor. He ended his professional footballing career at Manchester United where he won four Premier League titles in five years, including two League and FA Cup Doubles.Cantona is often regarded as having...
as the
FrenchFrench people can refer to:* The legal residents and citizens of France, regardless of ancestry. For a legal discussion, see French nationality law.* People whose ancestors lived in France or the area that later became France....
ambassador, future
Doctor WhoDoctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious alien time-traveller known as "the Doctor" who travels in his space and time-ship, the TARDIS, which normally appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s police box...
Christopher EcclestonChristopher Eccleston is an English stage, film and television actor. His films include Shallow Grave, Elizabeth, 28 Days Later, Gone in 60 Seconds and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...
as the Duke of Norfolk, and
Daniel CraigDaniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor and film producer. His early film roles included The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
, who would later portray
James BondJames Bond 007 is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. The character has also been used in the longest running and most financially successful English language film franchise to date, starting in 1962 with Dr...
, as a member of the
VaticanThe Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Roman Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
who is heavily involved in the film's central plot.
A sequel,
Elizabeth: The Golden Age was released by
Universal StudiosUniversal Studios , a subsidiary of NBC Universal, is one of the six major American movie studios. Its main motion picture production/distribution arm is called Universal Pictures. Its production studios are located at 100 Universal City Plaza Drive in Universal City, California...
on October 12, 2007.
In 1558, the
Roman CatholicThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
Mary I of EnglandMary I , was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. She was the oldest daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty, she is remembered for restoring England to Roman Catholicism after succeeding her short-lived...
dies of a
cancerCancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis...
ous
tumorA tumor or tumour is the name for a swelling or lesion formed by an abnormal growth of cells . Tumor is not synonymous with cancer. A tumor can be benign, pre-malignant or malignant, whereas cancer is by definition malignant....
in her
uterusThe uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation. The term uterus is used consistently within the medical and related professions; the Germanic term, womb is more common in...
, leaving her
ProtestantProtestantism is a branch within Christianity, containing many denominations with some differing practices and doctrines, that principally originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the major divisions within Christianity, together with the Roman...
half-sister
ElizabethElizabeth I was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called the Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
as
queenA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...
.
Tonight I think I die.
The marriage of a Queen, Excellency, is born of politics, not childish passion.
I do not like wars. They have uncertain outcomes.
I have no desire to make windows into men's souls.
Aye, but marry who, your grace? Would you give me some suggestion? For some say France and others Spain, and some cannot abide foreigners at all. So I am not sure how best to please you unless I married one of each.
[on marriage] I do not think you should lecture me on that my lord, since you yourself have been twice divorced. And are now upon your third wife.
Each of you must vote according to your conscience. But remember this. In your hands, upon this moment, lies the future happiness of my people, and the peace of this realm. Let that be upon your conscience also.
This is the Lord's doing. And it is marvelous in our eyes.
There will be no more talk of marriage.
A man will confess to anything...under torture.
Elizabeth is a
1998The year 1998 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 14 - Sharon Stone marries Phil Bronstein.* Former child star Gary Coleman is charged with assaulting a young female bus driver at a California shopping mall.-Top grossing films:...
film loosely based on the early reign of
Queen Elizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called the Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. The film was written by
Michael HirstMichael Hirst is a British screenwriter, best known for his films Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age .Hirst is head writer, creator and executive producer of the Showtime television Drama Series The Tudors which first began production in 2007.-External links:* at United Agents...
and directed by
Shekhar KapurShekhar Kapur is an Indian film director and producer. He is a critically acclaimed director, rose to popularity with the movie, Bandit Queen...
. It stars
Cate BlanchettCatherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress and theatre director. She has won multiple acting awards, most notably two SAGs, two Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTAs, an Academy Award, as well as the Volpi Cup at 64th Venice International Film Festival.Blanchett came to international...
,
Geoffrey RushGeoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor. He moved to Melbourne in the early 1990s via Brisbane and Sydney and currently lives in the suburb of Camberwell, Victoria...
,
Joseph FiennesJoseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English film and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayals of William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates, Martin Luther in Luther, and Mark Benford in the 2009 TV...
,
Christopher EcclestonChristopher Eccleston is an English stage, film and television actor. His films include Shallow Grave, Elizabeth, 28 Days Later, Gone in 60 Seconds and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...
, and
Richard AttenboroughRichard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE is an English actor, director, producer, and entrepreneur. Attenborough has won two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes...
. It was the final film of acclaimed British actor
Sir John GielgudSir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor/director/producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
. It also stars 12-year-old
Lily AllenLily Rose Beatrice Allen is an English recording artist, talk show host and actress. The daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen, she had a challenging childhood, without a stable residence and had been a pupil in thirteen different school institutions until the...
as a
lady in waitingLady in Waiting is an album by American southern rock band Outlaws, released in 1976. -Track listing:#"Breaker-Breaker" – 2:59#"South Carolina" – 3:05#"Ain't So Bad" – 3:48...
, Manchester United legend
Eric CantonaEric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French former footballer of the late 1980s and 1990s, turned actor. He ended his professional footballing career at Manchester United where he won four Premier League titles in five years, including two League and FA Cup Doubles.Cantona is often regarded as having...
as the
FrenchFrench people can refer to:* The legal residents and citizens of France, regardless of ancestry. For a legal discussion, see French nationality law.* People whose ancestors lived in France or the area that later became France....
ambassador, future
Doctor WhoDoctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious alien time-traveller known as "the Doctor" who travels in his space and time-ship, the TARDIS, which normally appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s police box...
Christopher EcclestonChristopher Eccleston is an English stage, film and television actor. His films include Shallow Grave, Elizabeth, 28 Days Later, Gone in 60 Seconds and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...
as the Duke of Norfolk, and
Daniel CraigDaniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor and film producer. His early film roles included The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
, who would later portray
James BondJames Bond 007 is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. The character has also been used in the longest running and most financially successful English language film franchise to date, starting in 1962 with Dr...
, as a member of the
VaticanThe Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Roman Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
who is heavily involved in the film's central plot.
A sequel,
Elizabeth: The Golden Age was released by
Universal StudiosUniversal Studios , a subsidiary of NBC Universal, is one of the six major American movie studios. Its main motion picture production/distribution arm is called Universal Pictures. Its production studios are located at 100 Universal City Plaza Drive in Universal City, California...
on October 12, 2007.
Plot
In 1558, the
Roman CatholicThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
Mary I of EnglandMary I , was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. She was the oldest daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty, she is remembered for restoring England to Roman Catholicism after succeeding her short-lived...
dies of a
cancerCancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth , invasion , and sometimes metastasis...
ous
tumorA tumor or tumour is the name for a swelling or lesion formed by an abnormal growth of cells . Tumor is not synonymous with cancer. A tumor can be benign, pre-malignant or malignant, whereas cancer is by definition malignant....
in her
uterusThe uterus is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals, including humans. It is within the uterus that the fetus develops during gestation. The term uterus is used consistently within the medical and related professions; the Germanic term, womb is more common in...
, leaving her
ProtestantProtestantism is a branch within Christianity, containing many denominations with some differing practices and doctrines, that principally originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the major divisions within Christianity, together with the Roman...
half-sister
ElizabethElizabeth I was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called the Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
as
queenA monarch is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which the country or entity usually ruled or controlled by an individual who usually rules for life or until abdication...
. Elizabeth had previously been jailed for a supposed conspiracy to murder Mary, but has now been freed for her
coronationA coronation is a ceremony marking the investiture of a monarch or their consort with regal power, specifically involving the placement of a crown upon his or her head, and the presentation of other items of regalia...
. The film shows Elizabeth being courted by suitors (including
Henri, Duc d'AnjouHenry III of France , was King of France from 1574 to 1589, and as Henry of Valois, first elected Monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Early years:Henry was born at the Royal Château de...
, the future King Henry III of France, whom she rejects) and urged by
William Cecil, 1st Baron BurghleyWilliam Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG, was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign , twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572.-Early life:Cecil was born in Bourne, Lincolnshire in...
to marry, which, as he states, would secure her throne. Instead, she has a secret affair with her childhood sweetheart, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. The affair is, however, no secret from Cecil—who makes clear that a monarch has no private life.
Elizabeth deals with various threats to her reign, including
The Duke of NorfolkThomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk was an English nobleman.Norfolk was the son of the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. He was taught as a child by John Foxe, the Protestant martyrologist, who remained a lifelong recipient of Norfolk's patronage...
, her Catholic cousin who conspires to have her murdered, and the regent of
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
,
Mary of GuiseMary of Guise was the Queen of Scots as the second spouse of King James V of Scotland. She was the mother of Queen Mary I of Scotland and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560....
, who allies with
FranceFrance , officially the French Republic , is a country located in Western Europe, with several overseas islands and territories located on other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean...
to attack England's forces. At the end of the film, Norfolk is executed for his
conspiracyIn a political sense, conspiracy refers to a group of persons united in the goal of usurping or overthrowing an established political power. Typically, the final goal is to gain power through a revolutionary coup d'état or through assassination....
and Mary is
assassinatedAn Assassination is the targeted killing of a public figure.Assassinations may be prompted by ideological, political, or military reasons. Additionally, assassins may be motivated by financial gain, revenge, personal public recognition, or mental illness....
by Elizabeth's advisor,
Francis WalsinghamSir Francis Walsingham is usually remembered as the "spymaster" of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence both for espionage and for domestic security...
.
Elizabeth permanently banishes Dudley from her private presence when she finds out that he is married; as depicted in the sequel, Elizabeth then gives up ever having sex again, feeling that such relations could give a man too much power over her. Moreover, cutting off her relations with Dudley is part of the process by which she becomes increasingly tough and assertive—in one scene she carefully prepares and rehearses the speech she would deliver to a recalcitrant Parliament and force through her religious reforms.
She also becomes capable of occasional ruthless behavior—as in unflinchingly ordering the execution of those who she considers dangerous to her rule, as well as taking up as her right-hand man the Machiavellian Walshingham, who thinks nothing of torturing people or killing with his own hands.
All this is a considerable change from the warm-hearted, rather romantic girl which Elizabeth was in the early parts of the film; remaining such would have been incompatible with being a queen who actually ruled and dominated the men around her, and her transformation is a major theme of the film.
The film ends with Elizabeth assuming the persona of 'The Virgin Queen', and initiating England's
Golden AgeThe English Renaissance was a cultural and artistic movement in England dating from the early 16th century to the early 17th century. It is associated with the pan-European Renaissance that many cultural historians believe originated in northern Italy in the 14th century...
.
Cast
- Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress and theatre director. She has won multiple acting awards, most notably two SAGs, two Golden Globe Awards, two BAFTAs, an Academy Award, as well as the Volpi Cup at 64th Venice International Film Festival.Blanchett came to international...
as Elizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called the Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
- Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor. He moved to Melbourne in the early 1990s via Brisbane and Sydney and currently lives in the suburb of Camberwell, Victoria...
as Francis WalsinghamSir Francis Walsingham is usually remembered as the "spymaster" of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence both for espionage and for domestic security...
- Christopher Eccleston
Christopher Eccleston is an English stage, film and television actor. His films include Shallow Grave, Elizabeth, 28 Days Later, Gone in 60 Seconds and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra...
as Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of NorfolkThomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk was an English nobleman.Norfolk was the son of the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. He was taught as a child by John Foxe, the Protestant martyrologist, who remained a lifelong recipient of Norfolk's patronage...
- Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English film and stage actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayals of William Shakespeare in Shakespeare in Love, Sir Robert Dudley in Elizabeth, Commisar Danilov in Enemy at the Gates, Martin Luther in Luther, and Mark Benford in the 2009 TV...
as Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of LeicesterRobert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester , K.G., was a favourite and close friend of Elizabeth I of England from her first year on the throne until his death. For many years he was a suitor for the Queen's hand, she giving him reason to hope...
- Kathy Burke
Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress, comedienne, playwright and theatre director.-Family and upbringing:...
as Mary I of EnglandMary I , was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. She was the oldest daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty, she is remembered for restoring England to Roman Catholicism after succeeding her short-lived...
- Jordi Mollà
Jordi Mollà Perales is a Spanish actor, filmmaker and artist.Mollà's artwork is represented in Carmen De la Guerra Gallery in Madrid, PicassoMio Gallery in Madrid and Barcelona and Cold Creation Gallery in Barcelona...
as Philip II of SpainPhilip II was King of Spain and Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, during his wife Mary Tudor's reign, King of England and Ireland...
- Emily Mortimer
Emily Mortimer is an English actress. She began performing on stage, and has since appeared in several film and television roles, including Scream 3 and Match Point .-Early life:...
as Kat Ashley
- Edward Hardwicke
Edward Hardwicke , sometimes credited as Edward Hardwick, is an English actor.-Early life and career:Hardwicke was born in London, England, the son of actors Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Helena Pickard. He began his film career in Hollywood at the age of 10, in Victor Fleming’s film A Guy Named Joe,...
as Henry FitzAlan, 19th Earl of ArundelHenry FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel was an English nobleman, who over his long life assumed a prominent place at the court of all the later Tudor sovereigns, probably the only person to do so...
- Daniel Craig
Daniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor and film producer. His early film roles included The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
as John BallardJohn Ballard was an English Jesuit priest executed for being involved in an attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England in the Ridolfi Plot.Ballard was educated at Caius College, Cambridge and at the English College at Rheims...
- James Frain
James Frain is an English stage and screen actor. He is possibly best known for his role as Thomas Cromwell in the Showtime series The Tudors. He appeared from 2007 to 2009 until his character was executed in the third season finale....
as Alvaro de la Quadra
- Kelly Macdonald
Kelly Macdonald is a Scottish Emmy Award- and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress.-Early life:Macdonald was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Her mother was a garment industry sales executive. Her parents divorced when she was young. She and her younger brother were raised by her mother on a...
as Lettice KnollysLaetitia Knollys, Countess of Essex and Leicester , normally referred to as Lettice Knollys, was born in Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. She was the mother of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth I's famous courtier, she was also the mother of the remarkable Penelope, Lady Rich...
- Angus Deayton
Gordon Angus Deayton is an English actor, writer, musician, comedian and television presenter. He is best-known as the former presenter of the satirical panel game Have I Got News for You, a job from which he was sacked in October 2002 after a second round of tabloid allegations about his personal...
as Waad, Chancellor of the ExchequerThe Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called The Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
- Wayne Sleep
Wayne Sleep OBE is a British dancer, director and choreographer. He was a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet and has appeared as a Guest Artist with several other ballet companies.-Early Life:...
as the dance tutor
- Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough, CBE is an English actor, director, producer, and entrepreneur. Attenborough has won two Academy Awards, four BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes...
as William Cecil, 1st Baron BurghleyWilliam Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG, was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign , twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572.-Early life:Cecil was born in Bourne, Lincolnshire in...
- John Gielgud
Sir Arthur John Gielgud, OM, CH was an English actor/director/producer. A descendant of the renowned Terry acting family, he achieved early international acclaim for his youthful, emotionally expressive Hamlet which broke box office records on Broadway in 1937...
as The PopeThe pope is the Bishop of Rome and, as such, is leader of the worldwide Catholic Church...
- Fanny Ardant
Fanny Marguerite Judith Ardant is a French actress. She has appeared in more than fifty motion pictures since 1976. Ardant won the César Award for Best Actress in 1997 for her performance in Pédale douce....
as Mary of GuiseMary of Guise was the Queen of Scots as the second spouse of King James V of Scotland. She was the mother of Queen Mary I of Scotland and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560....
- Vincent Cassel
Vincent Cassel is a French actor who comes from a strong acting background. Well known in his native France as a leading man, Cassel is usually seen as a villain or heavy in English-speaking films, often playing sadistic or brutal roles.-Personal life:Cassel was born Vincent Crochon in Paris,...
as the Henri, Duc d'AnjouHenry III of France , was King of France from 1574 to 1589, and as Henry of Valois, first elected Monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Early years:Henry was born at the Royal Château de...
- Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French former footballer of the late 1980s and 1990s, turned actor. He ended his professional footballing career at Manchester United where he won four Premier League titles in five years, including two League and FA Cup Doubles.Cantona is often regarded as having...
as Monsieur de Foix
Production
The costuming and shot composition of the coronation scene is based on Elizabeth's coronation portrait.
Cate Blanchett was chosen to play Elizabeth after she was seen in a play in Sydney.
Dramatic license
The film takes many liberties with history. Among them:
- The real Robert Dudley
Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester , K.G., was a favourite and close friend of Elizabeth I of England from her first year on the throne until his death. For many years he was a suitor for the Queen's hand, she giving him reason to hope...
did not betray Elizabeth, and remained a loyal subject until his death, nor did Elizabeth ever end their close friendship, as is implied here.
- Similarly, Dudley is shown in the film as converting to Catholicism when in fact he was a staunch Protestant (of the type that would later become termed as Puritan
A Puritan of 16th and 17th-century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of worship and doctrine, as well as personal and group piety. Puritans felt that the English Reformation had not gone far enough, and that the Church of England was tolerant...
), making such conversion unthinkable.
- Kat Ashley is portrayed as being of similar age to Elizabeth, though in reality she was significantly older, having been Elizabeth's governess.
- In the film, Elizabeth appears to find out from Sir William Cecil
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG, was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign , twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572.-Early life:Cecil was born in Bourne, Lincolnshire in...
that Robert Dudley is married, whereas in reality Elizabeth was well aware, since she attended his wedding. (While it is true that Elizabeth knew that Dudley married his first wife, Amy RobsartAmy Dudley was the first wife of Lord Robert Dudley, favourite of Elizabeth I. She is primarily known for her death: she fell down a flight of stairs. As she was apparently suffering from illness, and her husband was hoping to marry the Queen after her death, he was suspected by many to have been...
, and did indeed attend their wedding, she may not have known about his second marriage—to her cousin and one-time maid of the Privy ChamberThe Privy Chamber is part of the Topkapı Palace, Istanbul, where the Sultans have used as office and also kept the Sacred Trusts....
, Lettice KnollysLaetitia Knollys, Countess of Essex and Leicester , normally referred to as Lettice Knollys, was born in Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. She was the mother of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth I's famous courtier, she was also the mother of the remarkable Penelope, Lady Rich...
; she was furious when she discovered the truth. However, this was many years after the events of this film.
- The character who seems to be based on Lettice Knollys
Laetitia Knollys, Countess of Essex and Leicester , normally referred to as Lettice Knollys, was born in Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. She was the mother of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth I's famous courtier, she was also the mother of the remarkable Penelope, Lady Rich...
- called Isabel Knollys in the film for some reason - dies from a poison dress while having sex with Robert Dudley. However, Lettice Knollys did not suffer this fate or anything similar; she actually married Dudley years later, as previously stated, and died of old age when she was 91.
- In the film, the name of the Duke of Norfolk's lover - Lettice Howard - seems to be a combination of two of Dudley's mistresses: Lettice Knollys
Laetitia Knollys, Countess of Essex and Leicester , normally referred to as Lettice Knollys, was born in Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. She was the mother of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, Queen Elizabeth I's famous courtier, she was also the mother of the remarkable Penelope, Lady Rich...
and Lady Douglas Howard. Lettice was Dudley's mistress before she married him, and Lady Douglas Howard gave birth to Dudley's illegitimate son, who was also called Robert DudleyRobert Dudley was an English engineer, sailor and cartographer, the illegitimate son of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. In 1594, he led an expedition to the West Indies, of which he wrote an account. In 1605 he tried unsuccessfully to establish his legitimacy in court...
. There is no Lettice Howard known in this historical context.
- In the film, Elizabeth I is courted by Henri, Duke of Anjou
Henry III of France , was King of France from 1574 to 1589, and as Henry of Valois, first elected Monarch of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the dual titles of King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575.-Early years:Henry was born at the Royal Château de...
. The two never met in reality, as the actual proposal was for her marriage to FrançoisHercule François, Duke of Anjou and Alençon, often simply referred to as "the Duke of Alençon", was the youngest son of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici.-Early years:...
, his younger brother. François came to England and the proposal became a very serious prospect, although it was never fulfilled. Neither Henry nor François went to Scotland to meet Mary of GuiseMary of Guise was the Queen of Scots as the second spouse of King James V of Scotland. She was the mother of Queen Mary I of Scotland and served as regent of Scotland in her daughter's name from 1554 to 1560....
(indeed, Mary died years before the marriage proposal to François was even made). The film insists on Henry's alleged homosexuality or bisexuality, an old assumption based on the Duke's elegance and dislike of manly activities such as hunting and war; today some historians consider it unlikely considering Henry's uncountable affairs with women.
- William Cecil was not even 40 years old when Elizabeth began her reign, contrary to his cinematic portrayal as elderly. He was not retired by the young queen, either. He remained one of her most trusted advisers until his death, shortly before hers. Similarly, Francis Walsingham was in his mid-twenties when Elizabeth was crowned, not a middle-aged man as he was portrayed by Geoffrey Rush.
- The conspiracy of The Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk was an English nobleman.Norfolk was the son of the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. He was taught as a child by John Foxe, the Protestant martyrologist, who remained a lifelong recipient of Norfolk's patronage...
combines several events into one—in the film he is arrested and summarily executed for trying to supplant Elizabeth and marry Mary, Queen of Scots to cement his hold on the throne. In reality Norfolk was imprisoned in 1569 for trying to wed Mary, Queen of Scots without permission, but was eventually released. He was then implicated in a separate plot in 1572 (three years later) to put Mary Queen of Scots on the throne, for which he was then tried and executed. Contrary to his portrayal in the film as ruthless and powerful, he was actually a weak man, easily led and used by others.
- No evidence exists to support the claim that Francis Walsingham was involved in the death of Mary of Guise; she died of dropsy. Furthermore, her death occurred only a year into Elizabeth's reign, whereas many of the other events in the film occurred later, making them seem concurrent in the way they are presented.
- In the film, and as emphasized in its promotion, Elizabeth has bright blue eyes (Cate Blanchett's natural eye color); however, Elizabeth is well known for having the deep amber brown eyes of her mother, Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn was Queen of England as the second wife of King Henry VIII, the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the start of the...
, and the bright red hair of her father, Henry VIIIHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was also Lord of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of France. Henry was the second monarch of the House of Tudor, succeeding his father, Henry VII.Henry VIII was a significant figure in the history of the English monarchy...
. Blanchett has sensitive eyes, so she was unable to wear coloured contacts for her role.
- Bishop Stephen Gardiner (Terence Rigby
Terence Rigby was an English actor with a number of film and television credits to his name. In the 1970s he was well-known as police dog-handler PC Snow in the long-running series Softly, Softly: Taskforce...
) died before Elizabeth came to the throne, and had no part in the Ridolfi plotThe Ridolfi plot was a Roman Catholic plot in 1570 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with Mary I of Scotland. The plot was hatched and planned by Roberto di Ridolfi, an international banker who was able to travel between Brussels, Rome and Madrid to gather support without...
.
- The Earl of Arundel
Henry FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel was an English nobleman, who over his long life assumed a prominent place at the court of all the later Tudor sovereigns, probably the only person to do so...
was not executed as shown in the film, but was confined to the Tower of London and died as a prisoner.
- The Earl of Sussex
Thomas Radclyffe 3rd Earl of Sussex was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland during the Tudor period of English history, and a leading courtier during the reign of Elizabeth I.- Family:...
was a loyal servant of the Queen and was neither implicated in the plot nor executed.
- At the beginning of the film there is a short scene that states that the sole successors of Henry VIII were Mary I
Mary I may refer to:*Mary I of England , daughter of Henry VIII, often called "Bloody Mary"*Mary I of Scotland , Best known as "Queen of Scots"*Mary I of Portugal -See also:*Queen Mary...
and Elizabeth I; Edward VI was a successor, as was Lady Jane GreyLady Jane Grey was a claimant to the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Ireland. She was de facto monarch of England for just over a week in 1553....
(whose status as monarch is disputed).
- When Elizabeth is being questioned by her accusers in the beginning of the film at the Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London , is a historic fortress and scheduled monument in central London, England, on the north bank of the River Thames...
, the bishop suggests that the debate between CatholicismCatholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole...
and ProtestantismProtestantism is a branch within Christianity, containing many denominations with some differing practices and doctrines, that principally originated in the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. It is considered to be one of the major divisions within Christianity, together with the Roman...
is what killed her mother, Anne BoleynAnne Boleyn was Queen of England as the second wife of King Henry VIII, the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the start of the...
. This is not at all the case, for it was the (probably false) accusations of witchcraftWitchcraft, in various historical, anthropological, religious and mythological contexts, is the use of certain kinds of supernatural or magical powers. Witchcraft can refer to the use of such powers in order to inflict harm or damage upon members of a community or their property...
, incestIncest is any sexual activity between close relatives irrespective of the ages of the participants and irrespective of their consent, that is illegal or socially taboo. The type of sexual activity and the nature of the relationship between persons that constitutes a breach of law or social taboo...
, treasonIn law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife...
, and fornicationFornication is a term which typically refers to voluntary, illicit sexual intercourse between persons not married to each other. The origin of the word derives from Latin. The word fornix means "an archway" or "vault" and it became a common euphemism for a brothel as prostitutes could be solicited...
between Anne and other noblemen that sent her to her death.
- At the end of the film, Elizabeth decides to shave her hair to look like a virgin. In reality, she wore a wig and much white make-up after having smallpox, to hide the thin, sparse hair and scars on her face it had left her with.
Claims of anti-Catholicism
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights accused the film of
anti-CatholicismAnti-Catholicism is a generic term for discrimination, hostility or prejudice directed at the Catholic Church and/or its clergy or its members, often rooted in hatred or misunderstanding of their religion or culture...
, stating that the film gives the "impression that the religious strife was all the doing of the Catholic Church", noting that the
The New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded in 1851 and published in New York City. The largest metropolitan newspaper in the United States, "The Gray Lady"—named for its staid appearance and style—is regarded as a national newspaper of record...
review considered it "resolutely anti-Catholic" complete with a "scheming pope" [this is a misquote, the actual quote is "John Gielgud as the scheming Pope in a resolutely anti-Catholic drama", which can be found here: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0DE7D6173EF935A35752C1A96E958260] and repeating the charge made in the Buffalo News
that "every single Catholic in the film is dark, cruel and devious".
Release
Elizabeth premiered in September 1998 at the
Venice Film FestivalThe Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the Lido, Venice,...
and was also shown at the
Toronto International Film FestivalThe Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The festival begins the Thursday night after Labour Day and lasts for ten days. Between 300-400 films are screened at approximately 23 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
. It premiered in
London[]London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom. It has been a major settlement for two millennia, and the history of London goes back to its founding by the Romans, when it was named Londinium. London's core, the ancient City of London, the 'square mile', retains its medieval boundaries...
on October 2, 1998 and it premiered in the
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on October 13, 1998. It opened in the
United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
on October 23, 1998 and opened in
limited releaseLimited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
in the United States in nine theaters on November 6, 1998, grossing $275,131. Its widest release in the United States and
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was in 624 theaters, and its largest weekend gross throughout its run in theaters in the US and Canada was $3.9 million in 516 theaters, ranking #9 at the box office. Elizabeth
went on to gross $30 million in the United States and Canada, and a total of $82.1 million worldwide.
Wins
- 80th Academy Awards
The 80th Academy Awards ceremony honored the best films in 2007 and was broadcast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on ABC beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. EST, February 24, 2008 . During the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Academy Awards in 24...
:
Best Makeup
(Jenny Shircore)
Alexander Korda Awards for Best British Film
(Alison Owen), (Tim Bevan), Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music
(David Hirschfelder), Best Cinematography
(Remi Adefarasin), Best Makeup/Hair
(Jenny Shircore), Best Supporting ActorBest Supporting Actor or Best Supporting Actress is an accolade given by a group of film or theatre professionals in recognition of the work of supporting and character actors.Supporting actor awards include:...
(Geoffrey Rush), Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett)
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
The Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, commonly called the Critics' Choice Awards, are bestowed annually by the Broadcast Film Critics Association to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. Nominees are selected by written ballots in a week-long voting period, and are announced in December...
:
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett), Breakthrough Artist
(Joseph Fiennes)
- Chicago Film Critics Association Awards:
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett)
- Empire Awards
Since 1995, Empire—Britain's biggest selling film magazine—has organised the annual Empire Movie Awards. They were sponsored by Sony Ericsson until 2009 and are now sponsored by Jameson...
:
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett)
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett)
- Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards:
Most Promising Actor
(Cate Blanchett)
- London Critics Circle Film Awards:
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett), British Producer of the Year
(Alison Owen), (Tim Bevan)
- National Board of Review:
Best DirectorBest Director may refer to:* Academy Award for Best Director, the Oscar* Golden Globe Award for Best Director* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series...
(Shekhar Kapur)
- Online Film Critics Society Awards:
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett)
- Satellite Awards
The Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards.- Film :*Best Actor – Drama*Best Actor – Musical or Comedy*Best Actress – Drama...
:
Best Costume Design
(Alexandra Byrne), Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett)
- Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards:
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett)
- Toronto Film Critics Association Awards:
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett)
- Venice Film Festival
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi di Misurata in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the Lido, Venice,...
:
Max Factor Award
(Jenny Shircore)
Nominations
- Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are presented annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is...
:
Best ActressBest Actress can refer to:* Academy Award for Best Actress* BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role* Best Actress categories at the BAFTA film and television awards* Filmfare Best Actress Award* IIFA Best Actress Award...
(Cate Blanchett), Best Art Direction
(John Myhre), Best Cinematography
(Remi Adefarasin), Best Costume Design
(Alexandra Byrne), Best Original Score
(David Hirschfelder), Best Picture
(Alison Owen), (Eric Fellner), (Tim Bevan)
BAFTAs: Best Costume Design
(Alexandra Byrne), Best Editing
(Jill Bilcock), Best Picture
(Alison Owen), (Eric Fellner), (Tim Bevan), Best Art Direction
(John Myhre), Best Original Screenplay
(Michael Hirst), David Lean Award for Direction
(Shekhar Kapur)
Broadcast Film Critics Association AwardsThe Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, commonly called the Critics' Choice Awards, are bestowed annually by the Broadcast Film Critics Association to honor the finest in cinematic achievement. Nominees are selected by written ballots in a week-long voting period, and are announced in December...
: Best Picture
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards: Best Cinematography
(Remi Adefarasin), Best Original Score
(David Hirschfelder)
Golden Globes: Best DirectorBest Director may refer to:* Academy Award for Best Director, the Oscar* Golden Globe Award for Best Director* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series...
(Shekhar Kapur), Best Motion Picture - Drama
Satellite AwardsThe Satellite Awards are an annual award given by the International Press Academy. The awards were originally known as the Golden Satellite Awards.- Film :*Best Actor – Drama*Best Actor – Musical or Comedy*Best Actress – Drama...
: Best DirectorBest Director may refer to:* Academy Award for Best Director, the Oscar* Golden Globe Award for Best Director* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series...
(Shekhar Kapur), Best Picture
(Alison Owen), (Eric Fellner), (Tim Bevan), Best Art Direction
(John Myhre)
External links