The Virgin Queen

2006 - 2006

Part 1

22nd January 2006

Episode 1

Elizabeth remains a threat in her childless Catholic sister's eyes. Queen Mary is still on the throne and with her harsh politics, she excessively pursues the persecution of Protestants, even of her sister. Queen Mary knows that her sister has a large number of supporters in England, and therefore, she imprisons Elizabeth in the tower and later puts her under house arrest. When Queen Mary surprisingly dies from a tumor, Elizabeth becomes Queen of England. William Cecil, her advisor, warns Elizabeth of the dangers that the married Robert Dudley may, due to their inappropriate relation, cause as a member of the Privy Council.

Part 2

29th January 2006

Episode 2

The pressure on Elizabeth grows as there is still no marriage and consequently no heir to the throne. Elizabeth fears that her cousin Mary Queen of Scots, recently widowed, might claim her right to the throne of England. However she is resolute in thinking that she can rule alone. Meanwhile she continues to meet Robert Dudley. When his wife dies, rumors spread that Elizabeth might be behind her death. Details of a plot to replace Elizabeth with Mary are uncovered by Walsingham. Even the Duke of Norfolk seems to be involved and is subsequently sent to the tower.

Part 3

5th February 2006

Episode 3

In order to neutralize the threat from the Catholics, Elizabeth pursues a match with the Duke of Anjou. Walsingham discovers proof of a planed murder of Elizabeth. Elizabeth sends the Duke of Anjou away when she finds a knife in her bed and brings Mary Queen of Scots to trial. She is forced to execute her when Mary Queen of Scots is found guilty. This execution angers the Spanish and they send their Armada to fight the English as a consequence. However, the English can defeat the Armada. The news of Dudley's death leaves Elizabeth heartbroken, but when she meets the step-son of Dudley, the Earl of Essex, she allows herself to be charmed by him.

Part 4

12th February 2006

Episode 4

The Queen refuses to pay him when the Earl of Essex, the new national hero, returns with less riches than expected. He then travels to Ireland in order to put down a rebellion. He is not doing as well there as hoped. Elizabeth, however, doesn't allow him to come back home. To her dismay, he gives up and agrees on a ceasefire. Back in England, the Earl of Essex leads a rebellion against Queen Elizabeth. He and the other rebellion members are put in the tower after he they were unable to mobilize enough support. Eventually, Essex is executed.

Top Cast

Anne-Marie Duff•Tom Hardy•Ian Hart

Director

Coky Giedroyc

Writer

Paula Milne

The Virgin Queen explores the full sweep of Elizabeth's life: from her days of fear as a potential victim of her sister's terror; through her great love affair with Robert Dudley; into her years of triumph over the Armada; and finally her old age and her last, enigmatic relationship with her young protégé, the Earl of Essex.

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Full Cast

Anne-Marie Duff Image

Anne-Marie Duff

Queen Elizabeth I

Tom Hardy Image

Tom Hardy

Robert Dudley

Ian Hart Image

Ian Hart

William Cecil - Lord Burghley

Dexter Fletcher Image

Dexter Fletcher

Sir Thomas Radcliffe - Earl of Sussex

Joanne Whalley Image

Joanne Whalley

Queen Mary

Ben Daniels Image

Ben Daniels

Francis Walsingham

Kevin McKidd Image

Kevin McKidd

Duke of Norfolk

Emilia Fox Image

Emilia Fox

Amy Dudley

Tara Fitzgerald Image

Tara Fitzgerald

Kat Ashley

Hans Matheson Image

Hans Matheson

Robert Devereux - Earl of Essex

Sienna Guillory Image

Sienna Guillory

Lettice Knollys

Robert Pugh Image

Robert Pugh

Lord Chancellor Gardiner

Ewen Bremner Image

Ewen Bremner

Sir James Melville

Emma Kennedy Image

Emma Kennedy

Ellen

Ulrich Thomsen Image

Ulrich Thomsen

Baron

Jason Watkins Image

Jason Watkins

Christopher Hatton

Richard Syms Image

Richard Syms

Courtier

Matthias Gibbig

Duke of Anjou

Enzo Cilenti Image

Enzo Cilenti

Jean de Simier

Stephen Walters Image

Stephen Walters

Gilbert Gifford

Vincent Franklin Image

Vincent Franklin

Thomas Phelippes

Charlotte Winner

Mary, Queen of Scots

Nicholas Hewetson

Artist

Tony Maudsley Image

Tony Maudsley

Captain Morgan

Nigel Martin Davey Image

Nigel Martin Davey

Earl of Pembroke

Gavin Brocker

Young Man

Jordy Cernik

Period Guard

Dale Mercer Image

Dale Mercer

Court Dancer

Ralph Ineson Image

Ralph Ineson

Dr. William Cowes

Derek Riddell Image

Derek Riddell

Sir Walter Raleigh

Neil Stuke Image

Neil Stuke

Francis Bacon

Shaun Evans Image

Shaun Evans

Earl of Southampton

Tom Chambers Image

Tom Chambers

Sir Thomas Gorges

Sebastian Armesto Image

Sebastian Armesto

Charles Blount

Full Crew

Coky Giedroyc Image

Coky Giedroyc

Director

Paula Milne Image

Paula Milne

Writer

David Odd

Director of Photography

Joe Walker Image

Joe Walker

Editor

Nina Gold Image

Nina Gold

Casting

Donal Woods

Production Design

Charmian Adams

Art Direction

Mark Kebby

Art Direction

Amy Roberts

Costume Design

Justin Bodle

Executive Producer

Laura Mackie

Executive Producer

Paul Rutman Image

Paul Rutman

Producer

Simon Curtis Image

Simon Curtis

Executive Producer

Martin Phipps Image

Martin Phipps

Original Music Composer

Victoria Bancroft

Prosthetic Makeup Artist

Karen Hartley-Thomas

Makeup Artist

Chris Lyons

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Laura Schiavo

Makeup Artist

Peter Gleaves

ADR Mixer

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