NationMaster - Encyclopedia: The Virgin Queen (TV show)

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Anne-Marie Duff as Elizabeth I from the Virgin Queen

The Virgin Queen was a 2005 BBC/Power co-production based upon the life of Queen Elizabeth I, starring Anne-Marie Duff. It first aired in the United States in late 2005 on PBS' Masterpiece Theatre, and later appeared on UK screens in January 2006 on the BBC. Running nearly four hours in length, it featured a host of well-known British actors and was notable for its high production values and unique soundtrack - containing songs by Martin Phipps and the Mediaeval Baebes. As a drama, it focused heavily on the Queen's private life - particularly her relationship with Robert Dudley, and explored the politics of her reign in rather less depth. Its debut coincided with the release of the channel 4 series Elizabeth I, starring Helen Mirren in the lead role. Image File history File links Virginqueen_left01. ... Image File history File links Virginqueen_left01. ... Anne-Marie Duff as Elizabeth I from the Virgin Queen Anne-Marie Duff (born 1970) is a British actress. ... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 â€“ 24 March 1603 ) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, sometimes also known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, founded in 1922. ... Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 â€“ 24 March 1603 ) was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. ... Anne-Marie Duff as Elizabeth I from the Virgin Queen Anne-Marie Duff (born 1970) is a British actress. ... Masterpiece Theatre is a long-running television series produced by WGBH that premiered on PBS on January 10, 1971. ... The Mediaeval Baebes is an English ensemble of female musicians founded by Miranda Sex Garden member Katharine Blake in the 1990s, featuring some of her MSG cohorts as well as other friends who share her love of medieval music. ... At least two Robert Dudleys were prominent in history: Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, and Robert Dudley, styled Earl of Warwick, his illegitimate son. ... Elizabeth I was a series of 2 1 1/2 hour episodes produced by Channel 4 in 2005. ... Mirren with Malcolm McDowell in O Lucky Man! (1974) Dame Helen Mirren, DBE (born Ilyena Lydia Mironova on 26 July 1945) is an English stage, television and movie actress. ...

1 Themes
2 Historical Accuracy
3 Official Story Synopsis
4 Behind the scenes
5 Cast and credits
- 5.1 Cast
- 5.2 Production Credits
6 Filming Locations
7 DVD Release
8 See also
- 8.1 Sources

Themes

Despite being a biopic of Elizabeth's life and reign, the series presented its main character with particular interest in several themes, most notably Elizabeth's belief in her divine right to rule and also the emotional impact of her mother's execution. Speaking of her character, Anne-Marie Duff said "Her sense of her own divine right is difficult for us to get hold of as human beings nowadays, but I think that's what is so appealing about her - that sense of entitlement and what it does to you."

The drama was also very ambiguous on the subject of Elizabeth's virginity, it featured a scene where Elizabeth fantasizes about making love to Dudley, and noticeably excluded Elizabeth's near-death confession that nothing improper had ever taken place between them. However, Duff later revealed that the director and scriptwriter explicitly told her to play the Queen as a life-long virgin.

Historical Accuracy

Described by its producers as "... [a] regal portrait ... seeped in historical accuracy – passionate, emotional and full of the politics and social mores of the time", the series followed the general flow of history, but deviated from historical truth in numerous ways, such as below:

In the film, Elizabeth meets with Lettice Knollys after a long estrangement. In fact, Elizabeth snubbed Lettice, although Essex arranged the meeting.
Elizabeth died standing up in the movie. In reality, she was persuaded to lie on a pile of cushions.

Lettice Knollys (1540 - 25 December 1634) was born in Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. ...

Official Story Synopsis

(courtesy of the Masterpiece Theatre website)

The Virgin Queen is an intimate account of Elizabeth I's rule.

The tale begins when Elizabeth is a teenage princess imprisoned in the Tower of London by her half-sister Bloody Mary, charged with conspiracy and treason. Scared but determined the young Elizabeth fights for her life and for what she believes, as the protestant daughter of Henry VIII, is rightfully hers -- England's throne.

After Mary's death, Elizabeth plunges into her role as queen, discovering the harsh realities of ruling a country divided by faith and under threat from abroad. Convinced of her feminine weakness, the all-male Privy Council clamors to advise their inexperienced queen. Yet, Elizabeth soon learns how to outwit her enemies and charm those who conspire to their own ends, showing all the strength and resolve of her father.

Under constant pressure to marry, the coquettish Elizabeth rejects a string of wealthy European suitors, openly preferring the burning affections of her childhood playmate, the athletic, handsome -- and married -- Robert Dudley. But when Dudley's wife, Amy, is found dead, Elizabeth banishes Dudley, realizing that the scandal surrounding them could rock the very stability of England.

Surrounded by intrigue, conspiracy, torture and murder, Elizabeth struggles to balance her personal feelings with the rigors of the monarchy. The increasing clamor from her court and country to secure the throne transform the young queen into a liberated woman increasingly adamant that she will not be forced into a political marriage.

The Virgin Queen explores the fears, concerns, distastes and loves of the woman behind the crown, her duty as a monarch always taking precedence over her personal cravings.

In Elizabeth's own immortal words: "I have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king."

Behind the scenes

Costume creation for The Virgin Queen began a year in advance. The costume designers consulted a variety of sources, and created costumes that used colours to indicate character's moods and the progression of time.

When choosing locations, the production team wanted to present the full scope of England. The sand dunes near Bamburgh Castle were chosen for the Tilbury speech, whilst many castles and Tudor homes were also included in the project. The impressive State Receiving Chamber was in Middle Temple Hall, London. The gardens at Chastleton House were used for Elizabeth's royal gardens.

Martin Phipps composed the score. He was already well-known for his work on North and South (1854 Novel) for the BBC. North and South may refer to the following: North and South is the general title of a trilogy of novels by John Jakes and miniseries based on them. ...

It is estimated by imdb that the production cost £9,000,000.

Cast and credits

(courtesy of the Masterpiece Theatre website)

Cast

Elizabeth I - Anne-Marie Duff
Robert Dudley - Tom Hardy
Earl of Essex - Hans Matheson
William Cecil - Lord Burghley - Ian Hart
Earl of Sussex - Dexter Fletcher
Duke of Norfolk - Kevin McKidd
Robert Cecil - Daniel Evans
Queen Mary - Joanne Whalley
Lettice Knollys - Sienna Guillory
Francis Walsingham - Ben Daniels
Lord Chancellor Gardiner - Robert Pugh
Amy Dudley - Emilia Fox
King Phillip of Spain - Stanley Townsend
Kat Ashley - Tara Fitzgerald
Sir James Melville - Ewen Bremner
Mary Queen of Scots - Charlotte Winner
Sir Walter Raleigh - Derek Riddell
Charles Blount - Sebastian Armesto
Francis Bacon - Neil Stuke

Anne-Marie Duff as Elizabeth I from the Virgin Queen Anne-Marie Duff (born 1970) is a British actress. ... Edward Thomas Hardy (born September 15, 1977 in London, England), better known simply as Tom Hardy, is a British actor who is best known for his role of the Romulan Praetor Shinzon, a clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). ... Hans Matheson (born August 7, 1975 in Outer Hebrides, Scotland) is a Scottish-born actor who made his feature film debut as Johnny Silver in Jez Butterworths critically acclaimed directorial debut, Mojo. ... Ian Hart as Professor Quirrell in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone Ian Hart (born on 8 October 1964, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England) is an English actor of Irish Catholic extraction. ... Dexter Fletcher on the set of GamesMaster, of which he hosted only one series. ... Kevin McKidd (born August 9, 1973, Elgin, Scotland) is a Scottish actor. ... Joanne Whalley (born 25 August 1964) is a British actress. ... Sienna Guillory (born May 31, 1975) is a British actress and model. ... Emilia Fox (born July 31, 1974 in London, England) is an actress. ... Tara Fitzgerald (born September 18, 1967) is a British actress most widely known for her film roles in Sirens (opposite Hugh Grant) and the 1996 film Brassed Off . ... Ewen Bremner (born in 1971 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a Scottish actor. ...

Production Credits

Producer - Paul Rutman
Director - Coky Giedroyc
Writer - Paula Milne
Composer - Martin Phipps
Director of Photography - David Odd
Production Designer - Donal Wood
Film Editor - Joe Walker
Make Up Supervisor - Karen Hartley
Costume Designer - Amy Roberts
Casting Director - Nina Gold
Executive Producers - Justin Bode, Laura Mackie, Kate Harwood, Simon Curtis

Filming Locations

Alnwick Castle (Execution scenes)
Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire (Dudley's home)
Chastleton House (Whitehall Palace interiors and gardens)
Chillingham Castle (Fotheringhay)
Labyrinthine Keep at Warkworth Castle (Tower of London)
London's Middle Temple (Receiving Chamber)
Lord Leycester hospital (the Strand)
New College, Oxford (Anointment room)
Raby Castle (Whitehall Palace)

Alnwick Castle, from the east, across the pastures and the River Aln Alnwick Castle is a castle and stately home in Alnwick, Northumberland, England. ... The moated manor of Baddesley Clinton, just north of the historic town of Warwick in the English county of Warwickshire, was probably established sometime in the 13th century. ... Chillingham Castle is a privately owned medieval castle in the village of Chillingham, Northumberland, close to the border between England and Scotland. ... West face of the Keep of Warkworth Castle Plan of the keep. ... Part of Middle Temple c. ... The Lord Leycester hospital, viewed from the east. ... College name New College Named after Mary, mother of Jesus Established 1379 Sister College Kings College Warden Prof. ... Raby Castle from Jones Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen (1819). ...

DVD Release

The Virgin Queen was released on DVD in late February 2006. The soundtrack is available on CD as well, and is entitled Elizabeth I: the Virgin Queen.

Contents

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