Elizabeth I: A Rainha Virgem

Another version of a Tudor, Elizabeth I, the Gloriana, done up quite splendidly by the BBC.

The strongest aspect, as I viewed it, was neither the story, the costumes or the scenes, but the bold performance of Anne Marie Duff. She glows as a young Elizabeth, and displays strength and vanity as her aging self. Yes, the make-up could have been better, or as one suggested an alternate older actress, but the pace of Duff's performance was incrementally finer, than finer still, as she reached deeper into her character. And if one seeks out a miniature of the Queen, one sees a remarkable resemblance between the Queen and the actress.

Dudley, portrayed by Hardy, was a good foil; his perhaps son, but certainly step son, Essex portrayed by Hans Matheson, were interestingly cast, not so much by the actors but rather for the dramatic interpretation brought to each character. It is only bested by the old Bette Davis version of Elizabeth and Essex in spotlighting how the Virgin Queen sought male affection, but rebuffed any control but her own.

What burden the Queen, a bastard, a princess, and then a monarch must have endured in her private life, a life often dismissed for her political reign, or exaggerated for her fancy of her childhood friend, Robbie.

A most worthy addition to the pantheon of Tudor drama.

This has to be one of the better productions which centers on the life of Elizabeth 1st. The costumes, sets & character development are all superb & Anne Marie Duff puts in an outstanding performance as the eponymous "Virgin Queen" Tom Hardy also gives us a great performance as Robert Dudley. Several hand held camera shots work wonderfully & put you in the very center of the action in particular the scene with Elizabeth & Kat Ashley arguing from episode two. Kat Ashley in reality was a de facto mother to Elizabeth & looked out for Elizabeth's interests like a hawk, & that scene literally sent shivvers down my back!

The series music while outstanding & original, I feel, was let down by the absolutely nerve grating main theme "My care is like my shadow laid bare benith the sun" (this comes from a famous poem written by Elizabeth in real life) which to me, comes across as a mocking school yard bully chant. Sorry I was not a fan! I even turn the sound down on the DVD. However this is perhaps my only gripe with the whole production as the direction is solid & the photography is beautifully shot. Anne Marie Duff's performance is brilliant & I can not fault it, but as her character ages the makeup could have been better making the elder Elizabeth a little more believable, which is a shame, but I love the scene where the older Elzabeth is looking whistfully around her court & sees a young couple in love, holding hands & she remembers her life long love Robert Dudley. I also enjoyed the script as it replicates Elizabethen grammar very well without making it difficult to understand.

Overall this is a terrific little series which is written so well even those without knowledge of history would still enjoy this & this may even fire an interest in Elizabthen study for the next generation. I have studied Tudor history all my life & its rich, culture is utterly fascinating, often nerve racking & occasionally horrific, but never boring. There is always something new to learn & The Virgin Queen could be an excellent start for younger people who may also wish to step into Tudor times. This will certainly interest today's feminists who will adore Elizabeths story of how one woman spent her youth terrified of the axe as both her mother & her step mother had been beheaded. She was so terrified she vowed never to marry! Yet she was vastly intelligent, was sublime in state craft, politics & economics, who went on to become one of Englands finest monarchs who really did say... "There shall be one mistress here & no master!"

Don't get me wrong; the series itself I felt was well done and the script was decent. Some of the actors I felt weren't as strong as I would have preferred.

I think some people have already mentioned this but I will put my two cents in; Enough of Queen Bess! I have seen at least 4 different versions of Elizabeth I in the last 10 years. What is going on? There are other lesser known monarchs that need to have their stories told. Eleanor of Aquitaine? Edward II (openy gay English King who got a hot poker up his butt at the end of his life)? Richard III? War of the Roses? Come on Hollywood! If they want to stick to Tudor, how about they find something on Mary I or Edward VI (Bess' half siblings). I don't want to see another Henry VIII movie either. He did more than just have 6 wives, darn it!

The series itself was fine. Some of the historical things got screwed up but I try to ignore that. I'm a huge Tudor buff, so yes some of the sketchy things bugged me, but not enough to make me rant about it.

Summary: Put the Tudors to rest Please!

Having read the previous comments I would concur with what has been said, but here in the UK this was shown as 4 90 minute episodes, not 60 minutes as inferred in the previous post.

I loved everything about this production even down to the usage of the group the 'Medieval Baebes' (who perform mainly medieval AND Tudor/Renaissance popular music) which gave one goosebumps when you think that this music was probably well loved and performed by the real Queen and her courtiers.

If you check out the BBC Drama website it gives the background as to how the costumes were made to look in period and yet so modern and also the locations used. It was quite refreshing to see a British produced history series actually filmed in the UK and not in one of the old Eastern bloc countries as with the Channel 4 'Elizabeth I' and that other history series with Ann Marie Duff playing a character 'Charles II: The Power and the Passion'

Well done BBC...it will not surprise me if another BAFTA is not forthcoming for this production. Keep up the good work!

Retelling a story in history in the framework of film can be tricky business and Masterpiece Theatre's The Virgin Queen doesn't attempt to adhere to accuracy in the slightest. But, if you're like me, you would love to experience the story of Queen Elizabeth a thousands times over in a thousand ways, and this film richly succeeds in it's own right.

I have never seen such accurate costuming, beautiful sets or clever a soundtrack in any Elizabethan film (Oh my God, the soundtrack). Royal stoicism is put aside in lieu of emotive imagery. More than many films of this historical powerhouse, I appreciate the attention paid to the human side of Queen Eliazabeth--her vanity, weakness for the opposite sex (considering her royal responsibilities), and infamous indecisiveness.

I could have done without the laughably overblown Casa Nova characterization of Lord Robert Dudley (Tom Hardy, ). He came off as a retired Backstreet Boy, looked far too young for the part, and portrayed none of the cultivated finesse that those familiar with the real man know, in-turn, leaving the audience wondering what about this man is worth the scandal.

If you have any interest in a new take of Elizabeth's life since the 1998 film Elizabeth, I truly recommend this mini-series. For a more historically accurate glance of the time period in England, check out BBC's Elizabeth (1971) starring Glenda Jackson.