7 Best Movies About Queen Elizabeth I (And 6 Great TV Series)

England Queen Elizabeth I is a famous and complex historical figure who made unique contributions to Western civilization. So it’s no surprise that there are plenty of films to choose from about Elizabeth I. Although the English royal family has always been a source of interest for viewers around the world, television shows and films keep that spark of intrigue alive. The line of succession in British history is a bloody one, full of political intrigue, scandal and reform that produces great TV shows and films.

Few royals are as remembered as Elizabeth I, and she holds a very unique place in history. One of England’s most revered monarchs, Queen Elizabeth I is known as the “Virgin Queen” as she is known to have never married. She carried her realm into the Golden Age following the oppressive reigns of her sisters and King Henry VIII before her. Her venerable name has many merits behind it, so the huge number of TV series and films about Elizabeth I is understandable.

Elizabeth (1998)

Played by Cate Blanchett

In one of Cate Blanchett’s best roles, she played Elizabeth Tudor in the 1998 historical drama film. ElizabethPossibly one of the best Queen Elizabeth films about Elizabeth I. The film centers on the rise of a female monarch to the throne after the death of her sister Mary I (more commonly referred to as “Bloody Mary”) and Elizabeth’s early years as queen.

There is also a storyline focusing on the ill-fated secret romance between Elizabeth Tudor and Sir Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes), as she remains married to her country, unwilling to give up her power in a political alliance with other suitors. The film is an intriguing character study, deftly acted by Blanchett. The role earned Blanchett her first Oscar nomination, and the film itself was nominated for Best Picture. It also features performances from Emily Mortimer and Geoffrey Rush, as well as early roles from Alfie Allen and Daniel Craig.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)

Played by Cate Blanchett

Almost ten years after the release of the first film, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is a sequel with Blanchett again playing Queen Elizabeth I. the film will begin later, during her reignand Blanchett continues to bring unshakable confidence yet absolute empathy to the role, playing Elizabeth Tudor as she leads England into a golden age despite strained relations with Spain. The film deals with plots to assassinate the queen, the growing aggression of her enemies, and some romantic pursuits.

This sequel is also a standalone film, despite Blanchett reprising her role. and Geoffrey Rush returning as her advisor to Sir Francis Walsingham. They’re also joined by some exciting new actors, including Clive Owen, Rhys Ifans and Samantha Morton. Critically, the film fell far behind its predecessor, but Blanchett still managed to earn an Oscar nomination for her role.

Fire Over England (1937)

Played by Flora Robson

Fire over England is a 1937 black and white film, one of the first films about Queen Elizabeth I. The narrative follows the naval officer who discovered Spain’s plan to fight Englandwhich led to a naval battle that ended in victory for England. This narrow plot leads the young man to win the heart of one of Queen Elizabeth’s ladies-in-waiting.

Fire over England is still one of the most important films about Queen Elizabeth because the actress who plays her, Flora Robson, brings elegance to the character and her unnamed lady-in-waiting, played by Vivien Leigh, is a gem that captivates the audience. In fact, it was Lee’s performance in this film that helped her land the role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind which would make her an icon.

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Played by Judi Dench

Winner of the Oscar for Best Picture Shakespeare in Love is a must-see film and certainly one of the best films about Elizabeth I. This film will please the hopeless romantic. While the focus is primarily on the relationship between renowned playwright Shakespeare (Joseph Finnis) and his lover Viola (Gwyneth Paltrow), Queen Elizabeth (Judi Dench) also appears.

Elizabeth is the person who judges whether Shakespeare’s play can truly convey the nature of love in its authenticity.. As usual, Dench delivers a stunning performance as he carefully pulls the narrative strings and is thus a particular highlight of the critically acclaimed film. In the film, she plays the queen as a gruff yet comedic figure, commanding the screen whenever she appears. Dench was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance, which remains one of the shortest Oscar-nominated performances of all time, clocking in at just over five minutes of screen time.

The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)

Played by Bette Davis

This fictional novel about Queen Elizabeth, based on the Broadway play of the same name, brought together some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time. The private life of Elizabeth and Essex It was originally released in black and white but has since been remastered in color. This film covers turbulent relationship between Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Essexas their relationship remains hidden because the queen refuses to give up her power through marriage.

This is a great film for both film buffs and history buffs, even though it is a largely fictional look at relationships. Starring Bette Davis and Errol Flynn in the film as Queen Elizabeth and Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, this was the couple’s second film together and their chemistry is simply amazing.

The Virgin Queen (1955)

Played by Bette Davis

Like Cate Blanchett, Bette Davis is a legendary actress who has played Queen Elizabeth I on numerous occasions. Davis reprises the role in the 1955 film. Virgin Queen. The plot of this film is relatively simple. With the discovery of the New World explorer Sir Walter Raleigh seeks the queen’s consent to travel to America. When Queen Elizabeth I hesitates, he tries to seduce her in the hope that her newfound love will allow him to set sail.

Davis plays Elizabeth I with quiet severity, but beneath that public exterior lies a just and gracious monarch. This may not be Bette Davis’s most iconic role, but it is one of her best. The film was directed by Henry Coster, who was behind such classics as Harvey And Bishop’s Wife.

Orlando (1992)

Played by Quentin Crisp

Based on the novel by Virginia Woolf. Orlando: Biography, Orlando is a brilliant adaptation of classic literature that has incredible relevance to the study of gender identity and discrimination today. Tilda Swinton gives a standout performance as a poet who magically transforms from man to woman. by order of Queen Elizabeth not to grow old. As a result, Orlando goes through many years of English history, meeting different figures from different eras, which feels like a historical element Forrest Gump.

Queen Elizabeth I plays an important role in the film, being largely responsible for Orlando’s journey. The film also plays with the ideas of gender embedded in the story by casting a male actor to play Queen Elizabeth. It’s worth watching, as both Swinton and Crisp deliver powerful performances through the lens of Woolf’s masterful storytelling.

Elizabeth I (2005)

Played by Helen Mirren

One of the best film actresses of all time, Helen Mirren played the iconic monarch in a two-part miniseries in 2005. Elizabeth I. Along with Mirren as the Queen, Jeremy Irons plays the Duke of Essex and Hugh Dancy plays the Earl of Leicester. Although this is not one of the many films about Elizabeth I, but rather tells a fuller story in a television format, the show’s creators took a different approach to this narrative.

Elizabeth I tells a story about Queen Elizabeth’s final days as reigning monarchrather than her rise to the throne, her rivalry with Mary, Queen of Scots, or the chronological storyline following events during her nearly fifty-year reign. It’s great fun to see Mirren in this role since she won an Oscar in 2007 for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen.

Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen (2006)

Played by Anne-Marie Duff

Movies about Elizabeth I don’t have time to explore her entire influential reign. The miniseries format is therefore ideal for fully exploring Queen Elizabeth’s influence on England. Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen plunges into her life with amazing depth. Starring Anne-Marie Duff (during her UK run). Shameless series) as the titular monarch.

This is a 2006 mini-series. attempts to cover the entire life of Queen Elizabeth Tudorfrom infancy to death. Over four episodes, the show details the tyrannical rule of her sister, Queen Mary I (Joanne Whalley), her affair with Robert Dudley (Tom Hardy) and the final years of her life. Duff gave a stellar performance in the title role, earning her a BAFTA Television Award nomination, while Hardy continued to cement himself as a rising star before his Hollywood breakthrough.

The Tudors (2007–2010)

Performed by Kate Duggan, Claire McCauley and Laoise Murray

Tudors it is not about the reign of Elizabeth I, but about her turbulent family.House of Tudors. The series chronicles her father’s time on the throne and his quest to produce legitimate male heirs. Every season he goes through several of his marriages, and as a result of the marriages children are born. Over time, new actors take on the roles of the children, so during the performance Elizabeth is played by three different young performers.

Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) gets most of the attention, but the show did provide a great showcase of the talents of actors like Natalie Dormer, who played Anne Boleyn, and Sarah Bolger, who played Princess Mary.

Although the series only takes place in the final days of Henry VIII’s reign, it provides an interesting look at the core of Elizabeth’s Protestant beliefs, which come into conflict with her cousin (Mary Stuart of Scotland) and her Catholicism. Conflicts between the two religious groups begin long before the two young women come to power.

Reign (2013–2017)

Played by Rachel Skarsten

While the C.W. Reign begins with Mary Stuart’s (Adelaide Kane) attempt to reclaim her throne midway through the series. Reign written to include Queen Elizabeth’s (Rachel Skarsten) efforts to maintain her power. It is written as a rivalry between two monarchs, both wary of usurped crowns and recognizing that they were both female pawns on the political chessboard of monarchies, hierarchies and birthrights.

TV show Reign also known for costumes for the show. Despite being set in the 1500s, the costume designer uses modern fashion to create a youth show that is both historical and intriguing to its audience. It also incorporates soap opera elements into its storytelling, creating a period piece with stunning looks and plenty of drama that allow it to playfully stand out in the genre.

Becoming Elizabeth (2022)

Played by Alicia von Rittberg

Become Elizabeth tells about an era in the Queen’s life that is not often shown on screen – her teenage years.. While much of what happens in the show’s eight episodes is speculative fiction, it combines with actual historical moments to give the historical series a distinctly soapy feel.

Much of the focus of the series is not on Elizabeth’s path to rule, but rather on her brother Edward’s time as king and the machinations of the members of the court around him. When she’s 14, Elizabeth doesn’t even spend that much time in court, and the show reflects on her infatuation with a much older man and how far their relationship has gone. This is also makes it clear how many people around Elizabeth are simply interested in gaining power by being close to the throne, rather than looking out for her interests.

Alicia von Rittberg plays young Elizabeth to perfection. Although she is mostly known for her work in German cinema, here she proves that her talent is growing internationally.

My Lady Jane (2024)

Abbie Hearne as Princess Bess

Unlike most other films and TV shows that star Elizabeth I, My Lady Jane categorically does not correspond to historical accuracy. His a fantasy series adapted from the novel that presents an alternate history of England.Lady Jane Gray and those around her, including young Elizabeth.

My Lady Jane sees the protagonist at the center of a drama about an arranged marriage. She, like Elizabeth, is one of the members of the royal family vying for the throne. Jane’s adventures are the focus, with Elizabeth, here called Bess, playing a supporting role. The fantasy element of the story comes in the form of the Ethians, people who can transform into animals, although some cannot control these changes, including the man Lady Jane marries.

Bess is young here and supports Jane’s potential succession to the throne after her brother was slowly poisoned throughout the series. Although it is very different from reality, the idea of ​​the Ethians versus the Truths, as the non-transforming people are called, is very similar to the Protestant and Catholic clashes of the same era.

Unfortunately, the series was canceled after the first season. If the series had continued, the season finale hinted that there would have been a larger storyline for Bess in the future, one that might have moved closer to the plot. Elizabeth I reign.