Elizabeth I

2005

Elizabeth I

7.9 | en | Drama

Elizabeth I is a two-part 2005 British historical drama television miniseries directed by Tom Hooper, written by Nigel Williams, and starring Helen Mirren as Elizabeth I of England. The miniseries covers approximately the last 24 years of her nearly 45-year reign. Part 1 focuses on the final years of her relationship with the Earl of Leicester, played by Jeremy Irons. Part 2 focuses on her subsequent relationship with the Earl of Essex, played by Hugh Dancy. The series originally was broadcast in the United Kingdom in two two-hour segments on Channel 4. It later aired on HBO in the United States, CBC and TMN in Canada, ATV in Hong Kong, ABC in Australia, and TVNZ Television One in New Zealand. The series went on to win Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe Awards. The same year, Helen Mirren starred as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, with which she dominated the award season.

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Seasons & Episodes

EP2 Part 2

Oct. 06,2005

Deals with the final part of Elizabeth's reign and her relationship with the young and ambitious Earl of Essex. Her obvious affection for him causes concern to Walsingham, Cecil and Burghley, and as Essex becomes increasingly demanding, disobedient and ambitious, Elizabeth ultimately has to deal with him as a potential threat to her throne and position.

EP1 Part 1

Sep. 29,2005

Focuses on the relationship between Elizabeth I and the Earl of Leicester, her admirer and trusted advisor. They agree they cannot marry because of strategy and politics, but Leicester remains on intimate terms with her and her advisor. He feels threatened by the Queen's interest in the Duke of Anjou as a suitor and does what he can to disrupt the courtship. The Queen also has to deal with threats posed by Mary Queen of Scots, culminating in the latter's execution after involvement in plots against Elizabeth, as well as war with Spain. There is victory over the Armada and Spanish threat, but Elizabeth's joy at this is overshadowed by the death of Leicester.

7.9 | en | Drama | More Info

Released: 2005-09-29 | Released Producted By: Channel 4 Television , HBO Films Country: United Kingdom Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/elizabeth-i

Synopsis

Stream Online

The tv show is currently not available onine

Cast

Helen Mirren , Jeremy Irons , Hugh Dancy

Director

Leon McCarthy

Producted By

Channel 4 Television , HBO Films

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Trailers

Cast

Helen Mirren

as Queen Elizabeth I

The Duke The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration Escape from Extinction When Nature Calls with Helen Mirren F9 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament of Houses Sarah Cooper: Everything's Fine The One and Only Ivan Berlin, I Love You

Jeremy Irons

as Earl of Leicester

Dead Ringers The Pentaverate Birds Like Us Munich: The Edge of War Napoleone - Nel nome dell'arte Zack Snyder's Justice League House of Gucci Armin Mueller-Stahl - Ein Gaukler in Hollywood Love, Weddings & Other Disasters

Hugh Dancy

as Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex

Dun Dun: A Law & Order Fan Day Event Downton Abbey: A New Era Roar: The Woman Who Solved Her Own Murder The Abominable Snow Baby Late Night The Path Deadline Gallipoli Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return Hannibal

Reviews

robert-259-28954 BRAVO, HBO, for producing a film of such class and emotional power. Seldom am I at a loss for words when describing the acting ability of anyone, but in Helen Mirren's case, I am rendered speechless. As an actor myself, it is habitual to be often over-critical of another's screen performance, no matter their reputation or experience. But in both parts of this two-film masterpiece, all I could see is perfection from stem to stern, a mind blowing tribute to the art and perfection of a single actor's brilliance. It is rare in this day of CGI, gratuitous sex and violence, and making movies for profit only, to witness such an amazing film creation, with values as wonderful to the soul as to the eye and ear. In addition to Mirren's flawless performance, is the inspired casting of another British icon, the great Jeremy Irons, in perhaps the performance of his life. I have often found Mr. Irons to be cold and unemotional in his acting choices, but in this role, he truly took the gloves off, delivering a stunning tour de force on a par with the emotional depth of Ms. Mirren. To miss this motion picture, so lovingly created by HBO, is to deprive yourself of a modern day classic, so rare for this day and age. Don't miss it.

cottonswoods I've watched this two-part series many times. I never tire of it. In my view, Helen Mirren BECOMES Elizabeth I. I have read many histories of Elizabeth I's life and the period. This movie makes the history come alive before your eyes. I never tire of Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons and now a huge fan of Hugh Dancy. The costume wardrobes, sets, acting are all superb. But, its Mirren, Mirren, Mirren who IS Elizabeth.I would have loved for several of the events that happen within this movie to have been explored further, those are Elizabeth's death and funeral, the war with Spain, especially the Spanish Armada, her relationship with the Duke of Anjou and would love to have seen more views of her palaces, as much as still exist today.Hugh Dancy did a spectacular job as Robert Devereaux, the Earl of Essex, which was really a tragic story, truth be told. Someone should pick up that story and explore it better in future movies. Jeremy Iron's Earl of Leicester was even more endearing and brought me to tears on many occasions. Irons was so expressive and became the part so well.I highly recommend watching this Elizabeth I... even many times. Each time you will hear and see things you did not see before. Elizabeth's dialog are often quotes for which she is famous, but woven within the movie. You will also see items which were both hers and her father's, Henry VIII.

didi-5 Another version of the story of Elizabeth I may have been redundant, but Helen Mirren is really exceptional as the ageing queen trapped by her own stature in life, unable to love or be loved as anyone else unshackled by monarchy could be.Slightly different in story to other versions, this has Leicester throughout the first episode (which also introduces Essex), and then the second episode concentrates on the ruthless ambition of the Earl of Essex, the late favourite of Elizabeth's in old age.Beautifully shot and well-scripted, and with good supporting performances from the likes of Patrick Malahide and Toby Jones, this Elizabeth isn't a dark political thriller like Cate Blanchett's first appearance in the role, or detached from emotion like Glenda Jackson's classic TV performance. Mirren's Elizabeth is almost woman first and queen second.

badgerapple The production contains an blatant error to anyone that knows of the Babington Plot. One commentator mentions the English historian Dr David Starkey had been on set and was much impressed. Well, shame on him. Chidiock Tichbourne, one of the Babington Plot conspirators, just before his execution wrote to his wife one of the most moving poems of that century. It follows at the end of this comment.In the production, this poem is given to Elizabeth by Cecil after Essex's execution and Cecil says it had been written by Essex the night before. She reads part of it which makes her weep. This was no doubt a deliberate error as a device to produce an emotional scene. The alternative is that everyone involved with the production were ignorant of the facts. Either way, so much for HBO respect for historical accuracy. If they get such a well-known incident wrong, deliberately or not, then so much for anything they ever portray.My prime of youth is but a frost of cares, My feast of joy is but a dish of pain, My crop of corn is but a field of tares, And all my good is but vain hope of gain; The day is past, and yet I saw no sun, And now I live, and now my life is done.My tale was heard and yet it was not told, My fruit is fallen, yet my leaves are green, My youth is spent and yet I am not old, I saw the world and yet I was not seen; My thread is cut and yet it is not spun, And now I live and now my life is done.I sought my death and found it in my womb, I looked for life and found it was a shade, I trod the earth and knew it was my tomb, And now I die, and now I was but made; My glass is full, and now my glass is run, And now I live, and now my life is done.