Elizabeth (1998) John Gielgud The Pope Geoffrey Rush Sir Francis Walsingham Richard Attenborough Sir William Cecil Cate Blanchett Elizabeth I Fanny Ardant Mary of Guise Terence Rigby Bishop Gardiner Christopher Eccleston Duke of Norfolk Amanda Ryan Lettice Howard Kathy Burke Queen Mary Tudor James Frain Alvaro de la Quadra Jamie Foreman Earl of Sussex Edward Hardwicke Earl of Arundel Joseph Fiennes Robert Dudley--Earl of Leicester Kelly MacDonald Isabelle Knollys Wayne Sleep (II) Dance Tutor Emily Mortimer Kat Ashley Angus Deayton Waad--Chancellor of the Exchequer Eric Cantona Monsieur de Foix Kenny Doughty Sir Thomas Elyot Vincent Cassel Duc d Anjou Daniel Craig John Ballard Liz Giles Female Martyr Rod Culbertson Master Ridley Paul Fox (II) Male Martyr Peter Stockbridge Palace Chamberlain George Yiasoumi King Philip II of Spain Valerie Gale Mary's Dwarf Directed by: Shekhar Kapur, Ian Madden (II) Produced by: Juliette Dow, Alison Owen, Eric Fellner This is the England of 1554, but the veneer of traditional English composure and dignity has been stripped away. The British populace is in turmoil. Fearing a challenge to her throne, Queen Mary I imprisons her half-sister, Princess Elizabeth Tudor (The daughter of King Henry VII and Anne Boleyn), in the Tower of London. But, in 1558, when "Bloody Mary" dies, Elizabeth is swept onto the throne and, at the age of 25, is crowned Queen of England. In order to survive, let alone to rule, Elizabeth must suss out hidden agendas: the Court is rife with intrigue; military strategists are risking the lives of young Englishmen; religious leaders at home and abroad place no faith in her; and the man she loves might not be worthy of her trust. The male-dominated ruling class would appear to have the advantage, but intelligent Elizabeth will deploy whatever means necessary to keep, or take what's rightfully hers. ========== This film details the ascension to the throne and the early reign of Queen Elizabeth the First, as played by Cate Blanchett. The main focus is the endless attempts by her council to marry her off, the Catholic hatred of her and her romance with Lord Robert Dudley. ========== When catholic Queen Mary dies the succession goes to Elizabeth, the protestant half-sister Mary was not prepared to execute. The new queen finds herself surrounded by advisors, some supportive but some plotting to restore the catholic line by almost any means. She is also under pressure to marry and produce an heir, but her lover Lord Robert Dudley is not considered suitable. Elizabeth realises she has some decisions to make, the most important being who rules England. ========== It's 1553 and King Henry VIII has died. His sickly son Edward VI reigns for a short while before dying so his eldest daughter, Mary, a childless Catholic, has ascended to the throne. Under Mary's reign, Protestants, known as heretics, are being burned to death. Mary is ill and her half sister, Protestant Elizabeth, is next in line to the throne. Regardless of Mary being queen, she would never allow a Protestant to rule England. Although there is rumor of a Protestant uprising, Mary knows that Elizabeth is not behind this maneuver, yet Mary brings Elizabeth in under possible charges of treason. Elizabeth denies all and denies Mary's wish to uphold the Catholic faith once on the throne. Upon Mary's death in 1558 and Elizabeth's ascension to the throne, England is weak and in disarray. Many are out to unseat Elizabeth, 'a heretic'. To ensure her security on the throne, Elizabeth has to show some leadership, which includes, according to some of her many advisors, establishment of a single Protestant based Church of England, marriage to a suitable husband and the production of an heir. That husband however is not to be Lord Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's lover. Elizabeth needs to learn which of her advisors to listen to as some are not out for her best interest.