Key Films and Actors who portrayed Elizabeth

Films featuring Elizabeth I

There have been many films over the years that have featured Elizabeth I. For each one, the makeup and hair have been completely different. Each makeup artist and designer has come up with a completely different design which I like as each film looks like a different film rather than an adaption of the same one.

Cate Blanchett

'Elizabeth' 1998.

Overview

This is a biographical film written by Michael Hirst and directed by Shekhar Kapur. The makeup artist for the film is Anita Burger and the hair and makeup designer is Jenny Shircore. Cate Blanchett is the main actor playing the role of Queen Elizabeth I of England. The film is based on Elizabeth as a young girl and seeing her move on to become the Queen of England. The film also tells us of how she  got her name of 'The Virgin Queen'. The story behind this is that she was in love with a man who betrayed her after finding out he was already married to a woman, after this she decided to marry her country and give herself to the people of her country.

'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' 2007.

Overview

This film is about Queen Elizabeth going to war against her cousin, Mary Queen of Scotts to protect her throne. I really enjoyed both films and I think Cate Blanchett played both the roles really well. For all the awards nominated for the film, the only one that won was for the best makeup by Jenny Shircore.

Bette Davis

'The private lives of Elizabeth and Essex' 1939.

Overview

This is a drama directed by Michael Curtiz. It shows the affair between Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex. Elizabeth was 57 when she met him and he was only 24 years old. She sent him to Ireland and when he returns he demands to demands to share the throne with Elizabeth and at first she intends to until she realises how disastrous it would be for England. He planned to seize the Queen and she set a plan to protect her people and save her throne.

'The Virgin Queen' 1955.

Overview

This is a DeLuxe colour historical drama film directed by Henry Koster, produced by Charles Brackett and written by Harry Brown. The makeup artist for the film was Perc Westmore. The film shows the relationship between Queen Elizabeth and Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh wanted to create an expedition to the New World but he has to try and win Queen Elizabeth over first in order to pay for it to happen. It all seems well at first until he ends up falling for the lady in waiting Beth and the pair of them have to hide their love from the Queen.

Anne Marie Duff

'The Virgin Queen' 2005.

This is a BBC drama which was a four-part miniseries that was directed by Coky Giedroyc, produced by Paul Rutman and written by Paula Milne. It was about the life of Queen Elizabeth I. It focused a lot on the Queen's private life and important emotional parts in her life such as her relationship with Robert Dudley and her mother's execution. 

Helen Mirren

'Elizabeth I' 2005.

Overview

This is a two-part historical television miniseries directed by Tom Hooper and written by Nigel Williams. Fae Hammond is the makeup designer behind the show and Su Westwood, Gemma Richards and Jane Hope-Kavanagh are the hair and makeup artists. The series shows the last 24 years of her nearly 45 year reign. The first part shows her relationship with the Earl of Leicester and the second part focuses on her relationship with the Earl of Essex.

Glenda Jackson

'Mary Queen of Scots' 1971.

Overview

This is a biographical film based on the life of Mary, Queen of Scots. It is directed by Charles Jarrott, produced by Hal B Wallis and written by John Hale. The two queens (Mary and Elizabeth) fall out and Elizabeth imprisons Mary but refuses to behead her until she finds evidence that she has been involved in a conspiracy against her. She ends up finding proof, she is found guilty and is beheaded.

'Elizabeth R' 1971.

Overview

This is a BBC television drama. Dawn Alcock was the makeup artist for this show. This consisted of six 85-minute episodes and all tell the story of Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I growing up and becoming Queens. The first episode starts with them as young princesses and ends with Queen Elizabeth dying and handing over the throne to King James of England.

Judi Dench

'Shakespeare in Love' 1998

Overview

This was a British-American comedy drama film. It was directed by John Madden and written by Marc Norman. Lisa Westcott was the makeup and hair designer for the film and Veronica Brebner was the senior hair and makeup artist. In the film, Judi Dench appears as Queen Elizabeth I for a brief 8 minutes and still received an Oscar for her performance.