Elizabeth I (2005 TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elizabeth I |
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Title screen with Helen Mirren and Jeremy Irons
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| Written by | Nigel Williams |
| Directed by | Tom Hooper |
| Starring | Helen Mirren Jeremy Irons Patrick Malahide Toby Jones Hugh Dancy Barbara Flynn Ewen Bremner Ian McDiarmid |
| Theme music composer | Rob Lane |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 2 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Barney Reisz |
| Cinematography | Larry Smith |
| Editor(s) | Beverley Mills Melanie Oliver |
| Running time | 223 minutes |
| Production company(s) | HBO Films Channel 4 Television Corporation Company Pictures |
| Budget | £5.5 million |
| Release | |
| Original network | Channel 4 (UK) HBO (US) |
| Original release | 29 September – 6 October 2005 |
Elizabeth I is a TV show from 2005. It's a historical drama about the famous English queen, Elizabeth I of England. The show has two parts and stars Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth I. It was directed by Tom Hooper and written by Nigel Williams.
The series covers the last 24 years of Queen Elizabeth's long reign. Part 1 focuses on her relationship with the Earl of Leicester, played by Jeremy Irons. Part 2 looks at her later connection with the Earl of Essex, played by Hugh Dancy.
Elizabeth I first aired in the United Kingdom on Channel 4. Later, it was shown in the United States on HBO and in other countries like Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, and New Zealand. The show won several big awards, including Emmy, Peabody, and Golden Globe Awards.
Contents
Story of Queen Elizabeth's Reign
Part 1: Early Challenges and Relationships
The first part of the story begins in 1579. Queen Elizabeth I does not want to get married. Her main advisor, Lord Burghley, and her spy chief, Francis Walsingham, want her to marry the Duke of Anjou. This marriage would help England and France become allies against Spain. However, Elizabeth's close friend, the Earl of Leicester, doesn't like this plan because he cares deeply for her.
The Duke of Anjou comes to England and tries to win Elizabeth's affection, and she likes him. But when Elizabeth finds out that Leicester is already married, she gets very angry and sends him away from court. She also decides not to marry the Duke because many people in England don't support the idea.
Seven years later, Elizabeth welcomes Leicester back. Meanwhile, Walsingham finds proof that Elizabeth's cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots, who is Catholic, is planning to harm her. Elizabeth is hesitant to execute Mary because it could start a war between England and Spain. Mary tells Elizabeth she means her no harm during a secret meeting.
Elizabeth then gives Leicester command of the English army helping the Dutch fight against Spain. This effort fails, and Spain gains control of Holland. When it's proven that Mary was indeed plotting against Elizabeth, Mary is found guilty of treason and executed.
After talks between England and Spain fail, a large fleet of Spanish ships, known as the Spanish Armada, sails towards England. Elizabeth puts Leicester in charge of the land forces. She rides with him and his stepson, the Earl of Essex, to Tilbury. There, she gives a famous speech to her troops, preparing them for battle. The Spanish Armada is eventually defeated. Sadly, Leicester becomes very ill and dies shortly after hearing about England's victory. On his deathbed, he asks Essex to look after Elizabeth.
Part 2: New Favorites and Final Years
By 1589, Elizabeth has grown very fond of the Earl of Essex and has fallen in love with him. She is upset when he joins an English military trip to Lisbon without her permission. Even though he fails to capture the city, she forgives him. She gives him a share of a tax on sweet wines and a place on her Privy Council. Robert Cecil, Lord Burghley's son, also joins the council, and a rivalry grows between Essex and Cecil. This is seen in the case of Elizabeth's doctor, Dr. Lopez. Essex claims Dr. Lopez was involved in a Spanish plot against Elizabeth, leading to his execution. Later, Cecil shows that Essex's evidence was not strong.
Essex's desire for power starts to conflict with his loyalty to Elizabeth. As Elizabeth becomes more worried about Essex's behavior, she grows closer to Cecil. Cecil becomes Secretary of State after Walsingham dies. Essex is celebrated when he returns to England after capturing Cadiz from the Spanish. However, his relationship with Elizabeth gets worse. She and Cecil suspect Essex is secretly talking with James VI of Scotland, Mary, Queen of Scots' son, who could become the next English king.
After Lord Burghley dies, Elizabeth sends Essex to Ireland to stop a rebellion. Instead, he makes a truce and returns to England alone. Elizabeth places Essex under house arrest.
Essex and his supporters try to start a rebellion in London, but they fail and are captured. At his trial, Essex accuses Cecil of working with Spain, but he has no proof. Essex is found guilty of treason and is executed. Some time later, Elizabeth becomes very weak. She stops eating for three weeks before going to her bed and asking for a priest, saying she is ready to die.
Main Actors and Characters
The show features a talented cast. Here are the main actors and the historical figures they play:
- Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth I
- Jeremy Irons as Earl of Leicester
- Hugh Dancy as Earl of Essex
- Toby Jones as Robert Cecil
- Patrick Malahide as Sir Francis Walsingham
- Ian McDiarmid as Lord Burghley
- Barbara Flynn as Mary, Queen of Scots
- Ewen Bremner as King James VI
Other notable actors in Part 1 include:
- Jérémie Covillault as Duke of Anjou
- Diana Kent as Lady Essex
- Toby Salaman as Dr Lopez
- Geoffrey Streatfeild as Sir Anthony Babington
- David Delve as Sir Francis Drake
Other notable actors in Part 2 include:
- Will Keen as Francis Bacon
- Eddie Redmayne as Southampton
- Ben Pullen as Sir Walter Raleigh
How the Show Was Made
Filming and Sets
The director, Tom Hooper, said that Helen Mirren agreed to be in the show even before the script was finished. This was because everyone felt the show would only be worth making if she played Elizabeth. Hooper and Mirren had worked together before on another TV show called Prime Suspect 6.
The original idea for Elizabeth I was to be a two-hour show focusing only on Elizabeth's relationship with the Earl of Essex. But the writer, Nigel Williams, said that Mirren felt there should be "more politics" in the story.
The series was filmed in Vilnius, Lithuania. Huge sets were built inside an old sports arena that had been empty since the 1970s. For example, the set for Whitehall Palace was built exactly to scale, using the original building plans.
