Queen Elizabeth I
Screen Queens
Since the advent of cinematography there have been a number of films made on the life of the Virgin Queen.
The story of the unwanted girl who grew up to be one of the world's best loved monarchs continues to capture the
hearts and imaginations of every new generation. The Queen's triumphant yet turbulent life provides a wealth of
material from which writers and actors can draw, and the enigma that was Elizabeth means that no two portrayals of her
are ever the same.
Below are some of the actresses who have played Queen Elizabeth on stage and screen over the years, some now legends themselves.
 Sarah Bernhardt Victorian actress Sarah Bernhardt was the first to play Queen Elizabeth on screen
in the silent film of 1912 known as either
The Loves of Queen Elizabeth or Queen Elizabeth. |
 Ellen Compton Ellen Compton played Queen Elizabeth in the 1923 silent movie The loves of Mary Queen of Scots. The portrayal of
Queen Elizabeth in this film is very unfavourable.
|
 Florence Eldridge Florence Eldridge played Queen Elizabeth opposite Katherine Hepburn's Mary, Queen of Scots, in
Mary of Scotland (1936). |
 Flora Robson Flora Robson starred as Queen Elizabeth in two films: Fire Over England (1937) and The
Sea Hawk (1940). |
Bette Davis Bette Davis played the Tudor Queen twice. First in the film
The Private Lives of Elizabeth & Esex (1939), starring Errol Flynn as the doomed earl, and second in
the film The Virgin Queen (1955) about the Queen's relationship with Sir Walter Raleigh, played by Richard Rodd.
A young Joan Collins played Raleigh's wife, Bess Throckmorton. |
Jean Simmons Jean Simmons starred as Princess Elizabeth in the 1953 film Young Bess. This film was adapted
from the novel of the same name by Margaret Irwin and is a romantic interpretation of the controversial relationship between Elizabeth and
Thomas Seymour, Lord High Admiral, played by Simmons's husband, Stewart Granger. Deborah Kerr played Kateryn Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII. |
Irene Worth Irene Worth played Queen Elizabeth in Seven Seas to Calais (1962). Set in the Armada years,
it tells the story of Sir Francis Drake (played by Richard Todd) who not only succeeds in conquering the seas but in
winning the heart of the Virgin Queen herself. |
 Judith Anderson Judith Anderson played the Queen in a 1968 American series called Elizabeth The Queen.
Again, the Queen's tumultuous relationship witb the Earl of Essex was the focus. Charlton Heston played the doomed earl.
|
 Glenda Jackson Glenda Jackson perhaps proves herself the greatest of the screen queens in the wonderful BBC
series Elizabeth R (1971). This six part series chronicles Elizabeth's life from the reign of her brother,
Edward VI, until her death in 1603, and remains the best ever dramatistion of the Queen's life. |
 Miranda Richardson Miranda Richardson starred as a ditsy Queen Elizabeth in the superb 1980s comedy Blackadder.
Series Two is set in Elizabethan England and the main character is Lord Blackadder, played by Rowan Atkinson,
who constantly strives to please the Queen against threats of execution. His arch rival is Lord Melchett,
played by Stephen Fry. |
 Quentin Crisp Quentin Crisp played the Tudor Queen in the 1992 film Orlando, being the first man to play
the Queen. This film was based on the novel by Virginia Wolf and stars Tilda Swinton in the title role. |
 Judi Dench Judi Dench excelled as Queen Elizabeth in the oscar winning comedy Shakespeare in Love (1998).
Set in the 1590s this film follows the escapades of William Shakespeare, played by Joseph Fiennes, as he struggles to make a name for himself in
the theatrical world. Gwyneth Paltrow starred as his muse, Viola, and Colin Firth played her husband to be, the dastardly Earl of Wessex.
|
 Cate Blanchett Australian Cate Blanchett played the Queen in the 1998 film Elizabeth.
The film starred Joseph Fiennes as Robert Dudley, Geoffrey Rush as Francis Walsingham, and
Richard Attenborough as William Cecil.
|
 Josephine Barstow Soprano Josephine Barstow starred as Queen Elizabeth in a BBC production of Benjamin Britten's opera
Gloriana. This once again tells the story of Elizabeth's tragic last favourite, the Earl of Essex. |
 Diane D'Aquila Diane D'Aquila starred as Queen Elizabeth in a Canadian television dramatisation of Timothy Findley's
play Elizabeth Rex (2004). |
 Anne Marie Duff Anne Marie Duff starred as Elizabeth in the highly acclaimed 2005 television drama
Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen. This mini-series chronicled Elizabeth's life from the troubled years before her
accession to her death and is a far more faithful presentation of the Queen's life than many other productions. Duff is considered by some to be a
serious rival to Glenda Jackson as the greatest screen queen.
|
 Helen Mirren Helen Mirren starred as Elizabeth in the award-winning 2007 drama Elizabeth I. This mini-series
mainly focuses on the Queen's relationship with her two favourites, the Earl of Leicester and the Earl of Essex.
Mirren gives a strong and convincing performance.
|
 Laoise Murray Laoise Murray played a young Elizabeth in the fourth season of the historical saga The Tudors (2010).
|
 Joely Richardson Joely Richardson starred as Elizabeth in the 2011 film Anonymous.
While the portrayal of the Queen is very far fetched, the film is an interesting take on the Shakespearean
Authorship Question.
|
 Vanessa Redgrave Vanessa Redgrave, who starred as Mary, Queen of Scots in the 1971 film, plays an older Queen Elizabeth
I in the 2011 film Anonymous. Her daughter, Joely Richardson, plays the younger queen.
|
 Joanna Page Joanna Page starred as Queen Elizabeth I in an episode of the popular sci-fi series Doctor Who
called Day of The Doctor (2013).
|
 Anita Dobson In 2015 Anita Dobson played Queen Elizabeth in a BBC Documentary about The Armada called Armada :
12 Days to Save England. |
 Rachel Skarsten Rachel Skarsten stars as the Tudor Queen in a series about Mary, Queen of Scots,
called Reign, which debuted in 2013. |
 Helen Bradbury Helen Bradbury is an impressive Queen Elizabeth in the 2016 docu-drama
Bloody Queens: Elizabeth and Mary about the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary, Queen of Scots.
|
 Lily Cole Lily Cole played Elizabeth in a Channel 5 (UK) docu-drama Elizabeth I: Battle for the Throne (2017).
|
 Margot Robbie Margot Robbie played Queen Elizabeth in the 2018 movie Mary, Queen of Scots.
Saoirse Ronan plays the ill-fated Queen of Scotland.
|
 Alicia Von Rittberg Alicia Von Rittberg played Princess Elizabeth in the 2022 tv series Becoming Elizabeth. The series follows the trials and
tribulations of a young Elizabeth in a treacherous world following the death of her father, King Henry VIII.
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Other actresses to play Queen Elizabeth include:
Athene Seyler in the film Drake the Priate (1935).
Jenny Runacre in the cult film Jubilee (1978).
Helen Baxendale in the documentary In Suspicious Circumstances (Concerning Amy Robsart's death) (1996).
Imogen Slaughter in the Channel 4 docu-drama Elizabeth (2000).
