Natalie Dormer as Anne Bolin in the Tutors should have at least got an honorable mention she was cast as Margery Tyrell in Game of thrones because of it.
You should try and watch Claire Foy in Wolf Hall, Jodhi May in the TV version of The Other Boleyn Girl, and Dorothy Tutin in The Six Wives of Henry VIII starring Keith Michell, Helena Bonham Carter in Henry VII with Ray Winstone.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers deserved more than an honourable mention and Natalie Dormer should of DEFINITELY been in the list her portrayal of Anne Boleyn is perfection.
I politely disagree, mainly because Meyers was much much too handsome to portray an accurate Henry VIII. His portrayal was highly inaccurate, but then one must not assume that anything on film, unless a documentary, will be 100% accurate.
Actually Cate, while a good actress, could not have given a great performance because the who.e story was wrong and the characterisation of Elizabeth was also wrong. By the time she became Queen, Elizabeth's experiences had made her very politically savvy. She ruled as completely as her father did from almost Day 1 (according to the Spanish ambassador at the time at). She and Cecil started a strong and successful partnership from the very beginning and it continued for 40 years. But although she worked with her Council, none of them were in any doubt as to who was boss. Cate did not show any of this strength in her portrayal.
savolrat thanks I'll agree but then I'm Australian like her but she is a graduate of our foremost drama school here NIDA - national institute of dramatic arts 🎭 as are a lot of our great talents over the years she
Nope. Having a noble title doesnt make person royal. Being royal family does. There is a difference with nobility and royalty. You can be royal and be Duchess and be Duchess and dont be royal just part of aristocracy. Royals are people who are crowned and their family.
@@chelseaamore4157 Georgiana Devonshire was a noble duchess, not a royal one. She belonged to the noble House of Spencer like her descendent, Lady Diana (who THEN became royal only by marriage), and later by marriage belonged to the House of Cavendish. You must belong to the Royal House (which was then Hanover) to be royal.
I am surprised Katharine Hepburn's Eleanor of Aquitaine isn't on this list. When I think of royalty in cinema, I go to her performance first, then Helen Mirren in The Queen.
Lady Margaret well the king and I is a classic based of the book Anna and the king . And the other two are classic Shakespeare plays of royalty you have Richard the third Henry v amongst others he's known for they just included the ones that feature real historical royalty I mean they could have included Macbeth as well he was an actual king of Scotland look it up if you don't believe me !
Thank you for putting Cate Blanchet in no. 1! She deserved an Oscar for that! I see Queen Elizabeth I the way she portrayed her and I believe she was like this.
rayana jahra Out of all shows/movies, I see Queen Elizabeth better portrayed by Anne-Marie Duff in PBS mini series of 'The Virgin Queen'. Check that out. I also enjoyed Kate Blanchett in Elizabeth I as well, but Anne-Marie takes the cake and portrays her very well.
No, no you're all wrong. Not Cate or Anne, but I suppose you're just too young. Glenda Jackson played the penultimate Elizabeth I. And they gave her 6 programmes to do it in. PS: follows history quite well & costumes, sets are spot on. Give it a go!
@@tonymcneil978 Definitely, they are both powerhouses in that role. Glenda also played her in the original Mary Queen of Scots movie so I always think of her and the Cate
Best performance EVERRR of a monarch, must certainly be that of Glenda Jackson portraying Queen Elizabeth I of England. Absolute enchantment perfection!
I think Natalie Dormer and Natalie Portman should have been on this list for portraying Anne Boleyn. Anyway how is possible no single portrayal of Anne Boleyn made the list. at least Genevieve Bujold should have been in it. it's too bad Anne Boleyn wasn't represented on this list by Any single actress
Amelia Pendragon that makes sense on why they didn't add any version of Anne Boleyn because there have been some great portrayals of this fascinating queen
My favorite. She kept her tart enough that it felt more realistic to me. I loved The Tudors, but I think the real Anne was a bit more of a handful than she was portrayed there.
Although I love Cate Blanchet’s performance as Queen Elizabeth I, to me Glenda Jackson played the role to perfection, both in 1971 “Mary Queen of Scots” and in the BBC TV miniseries “Elizabeth R.” She just comes across as having more emotional self control in her speech and her behavior, which is probably more realistic as a 16th century queen would have been. It’s probably not Blanchet’s fault as an actress, but 1998’s Elizabeth I had so many anti-Catholic undertones in it that it borders on vulgarity and in my humble opinion, between that and the constant graphic sex and violence overshadows the plot. Although the costumes and interior decor are indeed lavish and stunningly beautiful in the 1998 version, the costumes worn by Glenda Jackson were more thoughtfully created and more accurate to what the Queen actually wore. Many of them were in fact replicas of attire the Queen wore for her many portraits. And the interiors of castles, although richly done for the time, were just not as over-the-top as portrayed. It is obvious that it is a 20th century portrayal rather than a realistic one. A couple of other 1970’s era BBC TV miniseries were also very well done but didn’t make the list: The Shadow of the Tower and King Edward VII. The acting is so well done I can enjoy watching them again and again. Still, I love your list and thank you for sharing this with us!
Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry of England in The Lion in Winter. I think they're portrayal was very entertaining because each tried to out wit the other but none succeeded.
Joe Vasquez Yes! I love it. Been interested in Marie Antoinette for a few years and was always able to relate to her misunderstood perception by everyone. When I found out Kirsten dunst, an actress I like, was playing her, I was telling myself I had to see it.
Joe Vasquez Yes! I love it. Been interested in Marie Antoinette for a few years and was always able to relate to her misunderstood perception by everyone. When I found out Kirsten dunst, an actress I like, was playing her, I was telling myself I had to see it.
If you enjoy the subject, there's a 1938 version of Marie Antoinette with Norma Shearer that's beautiful as well...in a different way, but still beautiful.
Vanessa Redgrave as Mary Queen of Scots (1971),with an equally strong performance by Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I. Though it contains a few historical errors, such as the two queens meeting (which never happened) , the performances and award-winning musical score by John Barry make it one of my favorites. Between this movie and the BBC TV series “Elizabeth R”, Glenda Jackson is the BEST Elizabeth I, hands down!
When I think of Elizabeth I, I think of Glenda Jackson. I'd like Cate Blanchette's performance better if the first film, at least, had been a little more true to actual events (e.g. she did not become "Gloriana" until much later in life and never permanently put Robert Dudley out of her life) and had included Robert Dudley in the second film. He played a big role in preparing England for the Armada and possible invasion.
As someone who has seen "The Young Victoria" with Emily Blunt and "Victoria" with Jenna Coleman, I think it should've been flipped, Jenna Coleman making the list and Emily Blunt the honorable mention.
ElizabethBennetDarcy well what can I say one is a Tv portrayal whilst the other is a movie so it's like pitting apples 🍎 and oranges 🍊 against each other !
I personally found Jenna's acting in this role to be rather wooden, especially in the first series, which was disappointing as she's normally very good. I also think the script made Victoria seem too childish. Victoria did make the wrong decisions, but this was because of her stubbornness and strength of character, rather than her juvenile ways.
Well, not enough research, there are many others who portrayed royals much better than some mentioned in the list.. 01. Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I, 02. Katherine Hepburn as Eleonor of Aquitaine 03. Keith Michell as Henry VIII 04. Hannelore Hoger as Catherine de Medici 05. Caroline Goodall as Cecily Neville 06. Laurence Olivier as Richard III 07. Alec Guiness as Charles I 08. Kenneth Branagh as Henry V 09. Nicolay Cherkasov as Ivan the Terrible 10. Peter O'Toole as Henry II
Anjo Malunes not queen Elizabeth but the mother of queen Elizabeth II otherwise known as the queen mother she's the wife of George vi so more Kings consort than actual queen title
Seriously?! Of all depictions of Henry VIII, you go with Jonathan Rhys Meyers in "The Tudors"? What about Charles Laughton in "The Private Life of Henry VIII", Robert Shaw in "A Man for All Seasons" or Richard Burton in "Anne of the Thousand Days"? All three of them were Oscar-nominated performances (with Laughton winning), making Henry VIII the historical figure who's garnered more Oscar nominations than any character put to screen!
Anthony James Rummel what's your issue with Jonathan he made Henry accessible to younger audiences as the movies you mentioned were made in my fathers youth ( he's 81)
@@michelleflood8220 Charles Laughton was fabulous and there's this thing called DVD. Keith Michell was another actor who played Henry VIII in The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Jonathan Rhys Meyers was good as a young lusty Henry but he's not so convincing as the older one by not wearing a fatsuit.
loulou DnG peobably the most historically incorrect film ever made! Kaiserin Elisabeth (she was ne even often called Sissi) deserved better than that romanticisicing film series, it doesn't do her justice. If you wanna see a far more accurate version of her life, I strongly recommend the musical.
Cate Blanchett's performance in the first Elizabeth is one of the greatest performance in cinema. I remember watching, having never heard of her before, and getting out of my seat in awe and wonder, and thinking she would be one of the greats of her generation. She was terribly robbed of the Oscar by what was one of Gyneth Paltrow's worst performances in Shakespeare in Love but who had a massive campaign with the academy & other awards to get it. A real shame. p.s. the scene where Cate/Elizabeth practices before the mirror before her first 'meeting' as Queen is one of the most stunning, wonderful scenes I have ever seen. She's a master of her craft. Loved Helen Mirren as Elizabeth II, also Claire Foy in the Crown (though I did not like the series which seemed to focus more on that wanker of a husband than the actual Queen). LOOOOVED Kenneth Branagh in Henry V, still my favorite performance of his. Didn't think Collin Firth was that good in the King's Speech. I mean, it was a good performance but not extraordinary. The awards have lately become popularity contests and depend on who runs a better campaign to woo award judges than actual reflection of the best performance.
Edna Worku agree dame Helen has a very regal type presence in that role . I think i heard princes William and Harry say it is one of the few more accurate portrayals of their grandmother
I can see both now. What I was trying to say that I first watched this video 5 days ago minutes after it was uploaded. At the time it only said "Top 10 Depictions of Real Life Royals in Movies". When I realized they were talking about TV roles as well, that's when I made my original comment. And based on the likes, 35 other people were thinking the exact same thing as I was. MsMojo must have then seen my comment, went back, and modified the video title. Does that make sense?
They're essentially playing original characters at this point. The show gave up portraying them as the actual historical figures halfway through the first season.
Katherine Hepburn for Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter! Peter O'Toole for Henry II ...Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart in the TV adaptation of the same ........ Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus in Gladiator... Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson for Mary Queen of Scots
Judi Dench was great as Elizabeth I but probably doesn't get a mention because of the brevity of her role in Shakespeare in Love. If you re-watch the movie, she only gets about 8 minutes screen time.
Why do you mention TWO pretty young things playing Victoria, but no mention ofJudi Dench's brilliant portrayal in _Mrs. Brown?_ Far deeper and more powerful a performance than Blunt's, certainly it blows that other little girl out of the room. And Dame Dench's few moments as Elizabeth I in _Shakespeare in Love_ comprise one of the best portrayals ever. Gee, between this and ignoring Helen Mirren's _tour de force_ as Elizabeth I, it's almost enough to make one think whoever wrote this video isn't interested in older actresses.
Amanda btw did you know that is where the state of Victoria here in Australia gets its name I'm pretty sure of that , as its capital Melbourne I'm sure is a nod to one of Victoria's chief advisors and first prime minister lord Melbourne
I like Vivien Lee's Cleopatra more. Elisabeth Tylor is the wrong impression of Queen Cleopatra. Queen Cleopatra was not a suductress. Julius Ceaser and Mark Antony had relationship with her because they have a motives not because she was pretty. Queen Cleopatra was a generous queen of Egypt but history has really negative image of her.
that's not actually true though she was indeed a level headed rather ugly greek woman she married Julius Caesar in order to maintain her throne it was she who was being manipulative there was no reason for Julius Caesar to have his own motives Cleopatra was queen only because Rome allowed it they were an autonomous Provence of Rome
Caesar and Kleopatra were never married. Kleopatra was married to her second brother Ptolemy XIV at that time. She was Caesar’s lover not his wife. Having her as a mistress was scandalous enough for Caesar but a marriage would have been stupid on his part.
omg number one should have been Glenda jackson as Elizabeth 1 from the series Elizabeth R--omg she didnt even make an honorable mention nor did the brilliant keith Michell as Henry VIII
Dan Langdon agree he's a well known Shakespearean actor both on stage and on screen as well as countless other roles to his credit recently saw him in the mystery series wallander
Kirsten Dunst was the perfect Marie Antoinette, it wasn't until I watched that movie I just saw Marie Antoinette as a selfish, spoiled queen. Even though it's a movie, it did portray Marie as a human
I believe antoinette was a queen like the rest of the queens, she lived a life of a normal queen. Only they hated her for being Austrian, she came in the wrong time and accused of many "most likely" unreal accusations for the sake of damaging the monarchy. I think antoinette was the victim. The french has always been poor. Its not the marie made them from well-lived to poor. Sadly, the movie didnt exactly show this much.
Believe you all blew this one. There are two others from Masterpiece Theater that should be in the top five. Elizabeth R (1971) and The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970). They may not have the production value of current movies and TV shows. But they set the standard in many ways.
Yul Brenner was not "white". He was From a town somewhere in Russia. He was supposedly Cossack. I am very pale, but I am Native American, Creole and have African American blood. I am sensitive about this because I have been dragged into ugly situations when someone makes a racist joke or statement and looks at me for agreement. I am infuriated!!! And tell them!!
christine paris way to stand up for yourself , you go girl ! I wouldn't take it lying down and there's no reason why you should . Why my friends know not to make German or Irish jokes to my face as I have ancestry from both and hate nothing more than outright or casual racism , im the same way you are when someone makes a joke about our indigenous Australians as I consider them more Australian than me ! Just because I'm born here I'm still a descendant of migrants
There is no way Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth approaches Glenda Jackson's Elizabeth R, particularly as Glenda Jackson read every available biography about Elizabeth before filming started and nails it. Glenda was also fortunate to have a much better script - much closer to the real Elizabeth and her story.
I really like this list, and would just like to add, in hoping that these films get more viewers: 1. Bette Davis in "The private lives of Elizabeth and Essex" - glorious technicolor and Davis really delivering. 2. Nigel Hawthorne in "The madness of King George" - beautiful, tender and perfectly matched by the brilliant Helen Mirren as Mrs King. Maybe these are not historically correct, but the really offer some wonderful acting. And Errol Flynn is as handsome as they come..... Happy watching!
Sarah Amrita, I get your point. It's like an Chinese actor playing an Indian maharaja. Still, it was the 50s, there was no recognizable Asian actors in that time to fit the role other than Yul.
My favourite portrayals of queens and empresses are Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I, Emily Blunt and Judi Dench as Queen Victoria, Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette, Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and the voice of Queen Tuya, Angela Lansbury as the voice of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, and Greta Garbo and Malin Buska as Queen Kristina of Sweden.
Yul Brynner wasn't white ! He was born in the most eastern city of Russia and is very obviously of Asian descent (mainly Mongol). So ok, Mongol is not Thai, but it's not whitewashing !
144Sushi First of all, his accent was more East Asian than Thai. His acting did not base on the way King Rama IV would act. There are tons of historical memo about the king in both positive and negative way. He also played Siamese in the production that doesn’t rely on facts about Siam. The production didn’t make good attempts to understand the real culture. Costumes are more East Asian than Thai and props are not that Siamese or Thai as well. You called this what?
White or not, I always thought there was something about him that made him believable in this part. He isn't like John Wayne as Genghis Khan. I thought maybe he was Greek or something non-white (partly) but didn't know what. There are much better examples of "white-washing" than Brenner imo.
Lisa Kazmier but is that the excuse for making white-washed movie like this? It’s like you said Latino is less discriminated that African American person so it’s okay to keep doing so.
Pattaphol Yuktadatta - I didn't know I was making an excuse but I suppose it could be seen as such. I take it you don't like the show because it is inauthentic and Brenner is just a small part of the story? It is a good show but, indeed, cultural sensitivity or comprehension is not what one is going to find on Broadway or from Hollywood. That's why I'm a historian. That's why people study history; one shouldn't expect accuracy from a staged production of any kind. So I don't. I kinda laugh when I see Daniel Day-Lewis' "Lincoln" lauded by WatchMojo (and others) for its historical accuracy. I always add "accurate for Hollywood" as a big grain of salt. Perhaps because there is rarely accuracy of any kind for some, those people(s) are esp. concerned about this. Idk. I can enjoy "The King and I" for what it is and totally keep in mind what it isn't. Perhaps that is a privilege or luxury.
Lisa Kazmier Well, historical accuracy is not the important thing in show business. That’s what I know. However, if the guy want to play as Thai, the accent should be Thai. Okay, let’s say if you want to make a show about someone from the south who spoke in Southern accent, would it be acceptable to hire actor to speak with Valley accent in the movie. That’s what I’m talking about. Anyway, the whole production is just racist. It is not just the casts.
Here's some fact vs fiction about The Queen with Helen Mirren. If you check the records and reports of the time, in actuality it was the Spencer family who wanted Diana to have a private funeral, and since Diana was no longer a member of the royal family, the Queen acquiesced--and got the blame for it. Similarly, both going to church that morning after the crash and staying at Balmoral was what William and Harry wanted; the Queen acquiesced--and got the blame for it. And she never tried to explain herself when the press chewed her out for these. When Charles Spencer saw the huge outpouring of public grief, he suddenly did an about-face and decided Diana "deserved" a public funeral (the same word he used when deciding she "deserved" to be mourned in private, away from the prying eyes of the media that he said hounded her to her death). Then of course, Spencer used the public occasion to pillory the royals where they could not respond. All this in front of the world and the grieving nephews he claimed to care so much about. What most people fail to understand is that the full-on ceremonial state funeral Diana fans were demanding was not Diana's by right and wouldn't have been had she still been married to Charles. In fact, she would not have been given a ceremonial state funeral had Charles been king and Diana queen consort. Only the reigning monarch gets a state funeral, unless Parliament and the monarch decree otherwise. The last time this happened was for Winston Churchill. What Diana did end up having was a public ceremonial funeral based heavily on that which the Queen Mum had planned for herself--much to her chagrin as she had carefully and meticulously planned her own memorial and did not appreciate it basically being stolen out from under her, but with the time crunch it was the path of least resistance. I don't view the royals through rose-colored specs, but in this case they truly did get the short end of public opinion and for the wrong reasons.
Cate's good, but I think Glenda Jackson is a better Elizabeth. Katherine Hepburn shone as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Peter O'Toole is good as Henry II (plus Timothy Dalton as Philip II of France). Keith Mitchell as Henry VIII deserved an honorable mention as well.
What about Adelaide Kane as Mary Queen of Scots? Her acting is so legit, yes, the show is not that accurate in historical events but she acts so well as Mary, showing all that wildnes and badass side of the queen. You simply can't deny that she portraits the queen so well.
I don't think casting Yul Brynner is neccessarily white washing, since he is, technically, east asian. Yes, he was born in Russia, but it was st the far east side of the country near the boarders of China, North Korea, and the Sea of Japan. So though he wouldn't really be considered Asian because he was Russian, I wouldn't say its really whitewashing to have cast. But then again, it was made in the fifties.
Isabelle Roberge well, he wasn't Thai or South East Asian. So yeah, in modern times, it would be a real problem. Also, the movie might have been a hit in the west but to the people it should have mattered to the most, The Thais, the movie was panned. And it was also banned if I'm not wrong.
Isabelle Roberge yes I agree with that but then there weren't a lot of Asian actors around that would look believable even now I don't see many Thai actors Koreans and Japanese and Chinese yes but not Thai closest to south East Asians you'd get is maybe Vietnamese actors and back in the fifties not many at all apart from yul or Bruce lee limited choice
At first I was like how can they leave jonathan rhys Meyers out of the top spot but I soon as I saw cate blanchett I completely took it back. I must have seen both elizabeth movies twenty times.
The exclusion of Peter O'Toole as Henry II is unforgivable. O"Toole played Henry II in two films, and did so with great success. Both adaptations were amazing. Shame that he was ignored in this.
My picks would be Cate and Judi as Elizabeth I and James Maxwell as Henry VII. :) They made the iconic historical figures come to life. It's as if you're watching the real historical figures!
I liked the list, but I spotted some serious omissions: 1. Charles Laughton - The Private Life of Henry VIII (Oscar Win), 2. Natalie Dormer - The Tudors, 3. Helena Bonham-Carter - The King's Speech (Oscar Nod), 4. Jenevieve Buyord - Anne of Thousand Days (Oscar Nod), 5. Judi Dench - Shakespeare in Love (Oscar Win)
Natalie Dormer as Anne Bolin in the Tutors should have at least got an honorable mention she was cast as Margery Tyrell in Game of thrones because of it.
Totally agree, no one has yet played Anne Boleyn better than Natalie Dormer has!
agreed
You should try and watch Claire Foy in Wolf Hall, Jodhi May in the TV version of The Other Boleyn Girl, and Dorothy Tutin in The Six Wives of Henry VIII starring Keith Michell, Helena Bonham Carter in Henry VII with Ray Winstone.
She's did a great job
Thank you!!
cate blanchet shines in every role she plays
Anna H. She's overrated
Anna H. is she a good actress or is she just tall?
I think she's a good actress, but is over praised at times. She's 5 ft 8, which is quite tall.
Anna H. she made me love Lady Tremaine, damn it!
+S198 i beg to disagree. I don't think she's overrated, if anything she's underrated
Jonathan Rhys Meyers deserved more than an honourable mention and Natalie Dormer should of DEFINITELY been in the list her portrayal of Anne Boleyn is perfection.
Rihanna And Little Mix yessss
I agree!!! Loved both so much.
I politely disagree, mainly because Meyers was much much too handsome to portray an accurate Henry VIII. His portrayal was highly inaccurate, but then one must not assume that anything on film, unless a documentary, will be 100% accurate.
Rhys-Meyers was awful
He was too pretty to play Henry
I love Jenna Coleman as Victoria!!
Nymeria Jenna Coleman is my wife, she is my tiny beautiful girl and I love her
Nymeria yes I do too series 2 is out here in Australia not sure
Me too, I need to get caught up though.
fantasyfiction101 try Netflix they might have series one and whilst there you can check out the crown
same!!
and yet cate blanchett didn't win the oscar for Elizabeth
i will never understand
She and gwen Paltrow were pitted against each other however Cate won the golden globes
The script was way off from truth
Critics agreed that she should've won instead of Gwynneth
As well as the costumes (esp. 2nd one) & sets, people esp. Elizabeth did not sleep in high ceiling cathedral type structures- they would have froze.
I am sure it's because It wasn't a white man's film.
I agree especially Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth. That was one powerful movie and Cate was spectacular.
Actually Cate, while a good actress, could not have given a great performance because the who.e story was wrong and the characterisation of Elizabeth was also wrong. By the time she became Queen, Elizabeth's experiences had made her very politically savvy. She ruled as completely as her father did from almost Day 1 (according to the Spanish ambassador at the time at). She and Cecil started a strong and successful partnership from the very beginning and it continued for 40 years. But although she worked with her Council, none of them were in any doubt as to who was boss. Cate did not show any of this strength in her portrayal.
The best version of Elizabeth is Glenda Jackson's in 1971's Elizabeth R. That was a huge success and should have been credited here.
Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I...YES!! It's seriously the Best!!
Eunbit Park you've got great taste but I'm biased as she's a fellow Aussie !
Next to Glenda Jackson, it falls short.
Eunbit Park YAAAASSS
cate blanchett is one of the best actors of this era. true icon
savolrat thanks I'll agree but then I'm Australian like her but she is a graduate of our foremost drama school here NIDA - national institute of dramatic arts 🎭 as are a lot of our great talents over the years she
Cate Blanchett was robbed the Oscar in her Elizabeth (the Virgin Queen) performance.
And also Keira Knightly as Georgina Cavendish in the movie "the Duchess"
That was a great one too !
kshamaf she isn't royal though.
Duchesses are royalty. They aren't Queens, but they are royal.
Nope. Having a noble title doesnt make person royal. Being royal family does. There is a difference with nobility and royalty. You can be royal and be Duchess and be Duchess and dont be royal just part of aristocracy. Royals are people who are crowned and their family.
She wasn't a ruling monarch.
@@chelseaamore4157 Georgiana Devonshire was a noble duchess, not a royal one. She belonged to the noble House of Spencer like her descendent, Lady Diana (who THEN became royal only by marriage), and later by marriage belonged to the House of Cavendish. You must belong to the Royal House (which was then Hanover) to be royal.
I am surprised Katharine Hepburn's Eleanor of Aquitaine isn't on this list. When I think of royalty in cinema, I go to her performance first, then Helen Mirren in The Queen.
Look up Helen Mirren's portrayal of Elizabeth I, in the miniseries she did with Jeremy Irons. Just brilliant.
I'm surprised Kenneth Brannaugh, Lawrence Olivier, and Yul Brenner showed up on this list. WatchMojo has the historical memory of a fruit fly.
As if they think people don't know performances in film past a certain time or a certain name.
Lady Margaret well the king and I is a classic based of the book Anna and the king . And the other two are classic Shakespeare plays of royalty you have Richard the third Henry v amongst others he's known for they just included the ones that feature real historical royalty I mean they could have included Macbeth as well he was an actual king of Scotland look it up if you don't believe me !
Plus Peter O Tool as Henry II - He did not win the Oscar but he nailed the part.
Thank you for putting Cate Blanchet in no. 1! She deserved an Oscar for that! I see Queen Elizabeth I the way she portrayed her and I believe she was like this.
rayana jahra
Out of all shows/movies, I see Queen Elizabeth better portrayed by Anne-Marie Duff in PBS mini series of 'The Virgin Queen'. Check that out. I also enjoyed Kate Blanchett in Elizabeth I as well, but Anne-Marie takes the cake and portrays her very well.
No, no you're all wrong. Not Cate or Anne, but I suppose you're just too young. Glenda Jackson played the penultimate Elizabeth I. And they gave her 6 programmes to do it in. PS: follows history quite well & costumes, sets are spot on. Give it a go!
Cate was awesome, but personally Glenda Jackson's portrayal in the series Elizabeth R was epic!
Same here....to me Cate was playing Glenda playing Elizabeth
@@tonymcneil978 Definitely, they are both powerhouses in that role. Glenda also played her in the original Mary Queen of Scots movie so I always think of her and the Cate
We watched some of Cate's performance as Elizabeth I in history class and it is undeniably phenomenal
Best performance EVERRR of a monarch, must certainly be that of Glenda Jackson portraying Queen Elizabeth I of England. Absolute enchantment perfection!
Cate Blanchet outshine everyone on the list
I think Natalie Dormer and Natalie Portman should have been on this list for portraying Anne Boleyn.
Anyway how is possible no single portrayal of Anne Boleyn made the list.
at least Genevieve Bujold should have been in it.
it's too bad Anne Boleyn wasn't represented on this list by Any single actress
Sara Zonana They seem to be focusing of reigning monarchs, not consorts.
Marie Antoinette was a consort...
Amelia Pendragon that makes sense on why they didn't add any version of Anne Boleyn because there have been some great portrayals of this fascinating queen
Sara Zonana Natalie's Dormers portrayal was perfection but Natalie Portman's was by far the worst!
Probably because one of the best portrayals to date is also Claire Foy's, nevermind the mess/up with the accent.
claire foy also did a good performance with anne boleyn in wolf hall
My favorite. She kept her tart enough that it felt more realistic to me. I loved The Tudors, but I think the real Anne was a bit more of a handful than she was portrayed there.
Although I love Cate Blanchet’s performance as Queen Elizabeth I, to me Glenda Jackson played the role to perfection, both in 1971 “Mary Queen of Scots” and in the BBC TV miniseries “Elizabeth R.” She just comes across as having more emotional self control in her speech and her behavior, which is probably more realistic as a 16th century queen would have been. It’s probably not Blanchet’s fault as an actress, but 1998’s Elizabeth I had so many anti-Catholic undertones in it that it borders on vulgarity and in my humble opinion, between that and the constant graphic sex and violence overshadows the plot.
Although the costumes and interior decor are indeed lavish and stunningly beautiful in the 1998 version, the costumes worn by Glenda Jackson were more thoughtfully created and more accurate to what the Queen actually wore. Many of them were in fact replicas of attire the Queen wore for her many portraits. And the interiors of castles, although richly done for the time, were just not as over-the-top as portrayed. It is obvious that it is a 20th century portrayal rather than a realistic one.
A couple of other 1970’s era BBC TV miniseries were also very well done but didn’t make the list: The Shadow of the Tower and King Edward VII. The acting is so well done I can enjoy watching them again and again.
Still, I love your list and thank you for sharing this with us!
you all missed others such as 1)Rebecca Ferguson as queen Elizabeth woodville in The White Queen.
jalen williams I loved her
Katharine Hepburn and Peter O'Toole as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry of England in The Lion in Winter. I think they're portrayal was very entertaining because each tried to out wit the other but none succeeded.
if u haven't seen Marie Antoinette get off RUclips and get that movie its so emotional and beautiful
Joe Vasquez Yes! I love it. Been interested in Marie Antoinette for a few years and was always able to relate to her misunderstood perception by everyone. When I found out Kirsten dunst, an actress I like, was playing her, I was telling myself I had to see it.
Joe Vasquez Yes! I love it. Been interested in Marie Antoinette for a few years and was always able to relate to her misunderstood perception by everyone. When I found out Kirsten dunst, an actress I like, was playing her, I was telling myself I had to see it.
If you enjoy the subject, there's a 1938 version of Marie Antoinette with Norma Shearer that's beautiful as well...in a different way, but still beautiful.
PatisserieBoy ima see it ,thx
An American actress playing Marie Antoinette with an American accent, that's just so wrong, and sounds so wrong.
Cate Blanchett is riveting. Just riveting. So deserves this number one spot.
Lucina Mendez agree but then
I'm biased being Australian as i am
Vanessa Redgrave as Mary Queen of Scots (1971),with an equally strong performance by Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I. Though it contains a few historical errors, such as the two queens meeting (which never happened) , the performances and award-winning musical score by John Barry make it one of my favorites.
Between this movie and the BBC TV series “Elizabeth R”, Glenda Jackson is the BEST Elizabeth I, hands down!
When I think of Elizabeth I, I think of Glenda Jackson. I'd like Cate Blanchette's performance better if the first film, at least, had been a little more true to actual events (e.g. she did not become "Gloriana" until much later in life and never permanently put Robert Dudley out of her life) and had included Robert Dudley in the second film. He played a big role in preparing England for the Armada and possible invasion.
As someone who has seen "The Young Victoria" with Emily Blunt and "Victoria" with Jenna Coleman, I think it should've been flipped, Jenna Coleman making the list and Emily Blunt the honorable mention.
ElizabethBennetDarcy well what can I say one is a Tv portrayal whilst the other is a movie so it's like pitting apples 🍎 and oranges 🍊 against each other !
ElizabethBennetDarcy Jenna was actually a poor representation of Victoria!
I agree, Jenna's Victoria is really good and she never gets any credit
@@alfiesalternativetitles1154 Disagree.
I personally found Jenna's acting in this role to be rather wooden, especially in the first series, which was disappointing as she's normally very good. I also think the script made Victoria seem too childish. Victoria did make the wrong decisions, but this was because of her stubbornness and strength of character, rather than her juvenile ways.
Elizabeth was is my idol and no one ever played her better then Cate
what about Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn?
jamie mitchell she was technically not a royal
Haffi1996 well she married a king so she was a Queen
I was just going to comment the same thing
this is movies for one thing
the crown is a series
Well, not enough research, there are many others who portrayed royals much better than some mentioned in the list..
01. Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I,
02. Katherine Hepburn as Eleonor of Aquitaine
03. Keith Michell as Henry VIII
04. Hannelore Hoger as Catherine de Medici
05. Caroline Goodall as Cecily Neville
06. Laurence Olivier as Richard III
07. Alec Guiness as Charles I
08. Kenneth Branagh as Henry V
09. Nicolay Cherkasov as Ivan the Terrible
10. Peter O'Toole as Henry II
Helena Bonham Carter as Lady Jane Grey ?
b.j. thomas I loved that movie
And her dad was Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart)
and Queen Elizabeth II, King's Speech which earned her an Oscar nomination. missing.
b.j. thomas I think she makes a very convincing queen mother in the Kings speech !
Anjo Malunes not queen Elizabeth but the mother of queen Elizabeth II otherwise known as the queen mother she's the wife of George vi so more Kings consort than actual queen title
Seriously?! Of all depictions of Henry VIII, you go with Jonathan Rhys Meyers in "The Tudors"?
What about Charles Laughton in "The Private Life of Henry VIII", Robert Shaw in "A Man for All Seasons" or Richard Burton in "Anne of the Thousand Days"?
All three of them were Oscar-nominated performances (with Laughton winning), making Henry VIII the historical figure who's garnered more Oscar nominations than any character put to screen!
Anthony James Rummel what's your issue with Jonathan he made Henry accessible to younger audiences as the movies you mentioned were made in my fathers youth ( he's 81)
@@michelleflood8220 Charles Laughton was fabulous and there's this thing called DVD. Keith Michell was another actor who played Henry VIII in The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Jonathan Rhys Meyers was good as a young lusty Henry but he's not so convincing as the older one by not wearing a fatsuit.
What about Romy Schneider in Sissi!
Laurene Mazade That was my childhood
Me too!
I only heard about it when I moved to Hungary, it is really weil known here. Great movie(s).
The movies were ridiculous, not even close to reality, and even Romy Schneider said she regretted playing Sissi...So no.
loulou DnG peobably the most historically incorrect film ever made! Kaiserin Elisabeth (she was ne even often called Sissi) deserved better than that romanticisicing film series, it doesn't do her justice. If you wanna see a far more accurate version of her life, I strongly recommend the musical.
Cate Blanchett's performance in the first Elizabeth is one of the greatest performance in cinema. I remember watching, having never heard of her before, and getting out of my seat in awe and wonder, and thinking she would be one of the greats of her generation. She was terribly robbed of the Oscar by what was one of Gyneth Paltrow's worst performances in Shakespeare in Love but who had a massive campaign with the academy & other awards to get it. A real shame. p.s. the scene where Cate/Elizabeth practices before the mirror before her first 'meeting' as Queen is one of the most stunning, wonderful scenes I have ever seen. She's a master of her craft.
Loved Helen Mirren as Elizabeth II, also Claire Foy in the Crown (though I did not like the series which seemed to focus more on that wanker of a husband than the actual Queen). LOOOOVED Kenneth Branagh in Henry V, still my favorite performance of his. Didn't think Collin Firth was that good in the King's Speech. I mean, it was a good performance but not extraordinary. The awards have lately become popularity contests and depend on who runs a better campaign to woo award judges than actual reflection of the best performance.
Cate Blanchett is a queen, whether in a role of one, or on her own self.
subway07 agree she seems to have a somewhat regal presence hence why she was cast as galadriel the elven queen in lord of the rings trilogy
Lol I read "Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II" as "Helen Mirren as Herself". Can you blame me though?😅
Edna Worku agree dame Helen has a very regal type presence in that role . I think i heard princes William and Harry say it is one of the few more accurate portrayals of their grandmother
@@michelleflood8220 Would she play the role in the Crown in the future?
Shouldn't this be called "Top 10 Depictions of Real Life Royals in Movies and Television"?
It DOES!
"Top 10 Best Depictions of Real Life Royals in Movies and TV"
Notice the last two words???
At the time I made my comment, it only said "Top 10 Depictions of Real Life Royals in Movies." They must have added in the "and TV" part later.
Don't know about that-I see both!
I can see both now. What I was trying to say that I first watched this video 5 days ago minutes after it was uploaded. At the time it only said "Top 10 Depictions of Real Life Royals in Movies". When I realized they were talking about TV roles as well, that's when I made my original comment. And based on the likes, 35 other people were thinking the exact same thing as I was. MsMojo must have then seen my comment, went back, and modified the video title. Does that make sense?
Did you ask the uploader if they changed the title?
That tiny scene with Cate Blanchet gave me chills.
Adelaide Kane as Mary, Queen of Scots
Rachel Skarsten as Queen Elizabeth I
Megan Follows as Queen Catherine de Medici
Signe Jeppesen YES YES YES YES!!!!
Signe Jeppesen Catherine yes, Mary hell no. I get that they are trying to show us her life, but they changed too much.
Signe Jeppesen also Elizabeth yes!!!!
They're essentially playing original characters at this point. The show gave up portraying them as the actual historical figures halfway through the first season.
Maggie Holtorf Agreed!
Katherine Hepburn for Eleanor of Aquitaine in The Lion in Winter! Peter O'Toole for Henry II ...Glenn Close and Patrick Stewart in the TV adaptation of the same ........ Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus in Gladiator... Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson for Mary Queen of Scots
Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth R.
Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I ! Oh how could that performance be overlooked!
Cate Blanchette, Emily Blunt, Helen Mirren and Colin Firth shine in all of their roles.
Where it is Honorable Mentions for Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech) and Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love)?
Judi Dench's portrayal was nothing like the historical Elizabeth I.
What about Glenda Jackson's iconic Elizabeth? Far superior to Cate.
Judi Dench was great as Elizabeth I but probably doesn't get a mention because of the brevity of her role in Shakespeare in Love. If you re-watch the movie, she only gets about 8 minutes screen time.
Why do you mention TWO pretty young things playing Victoria, but no mention ofJudi Dench's brilliant portrayal in _Mrs. Brown?_ Far deeper and more powerful a performance than Blunt's, certainly it blows that other little girl out of the room. And Dame Dench's few moments as Elizabeth I in _Shakespeare in Love_ comprise one of the best portrayals ever.
Gee, between this and ignoring Helen Mirren's _tour de force_ as Elizabeth I, it's almost enough to make one think whoever wrote this video isn't interested in older actresses.
Serai3 I love u for recognising Judi Dench as Victoria :D
I love Emily Blunt but I liked Jenna Coleman's Victoria better
Amanda I'm still waiting to catch up with season 2 of the show watched till the end of s1 where she just had her eldest daughter Victoria
Amanda btw did you know that is where the state of Victoria here in Australia gets its name I'm pretty sure of that , as its capital Melbourne I'm sure is a nod to one of Victoria's chief advisors and first prime minister lord Melbourne
What about Katherine Hepburn's portrayal of Eleanor of Aquitaine?
I still say that Glenda Jackson deserves a mention for her portrayal of Elizabeth R
Glenda Jackson as Elisabeth R - the best period!
I loved Kate Blanchard in Elizabeth. She was magnificent . Makes me wanna watch it again and again
I like Vivien Lee's Cleopatra more. Elisabeth Tylor is the wrong impression of Queen Cleopatra. Queen Cleopatra was not a suductress. Julius Ceaser and Mark Antony had relationship with her because they have a motives not because she was pretty. Queen Cleopatra was a generous queen of Egypt but history has really negative image of her.
Vivien's Kleopatra is wrong too. In that movie she was portrayed as a girlish and timid woman for the majority of the film.
that's not actually true though she was indeed a level headed rather ugly greek woman she married Julius Caesar in order to maintain her throne it was she who was being manipulative
there was no reason for Julius Caesar to have his own motives Cleopatra was queen only because Rome allowed it they were an autonomous Provence of Rome
+indeed Kleopatra didn’t marry Caesar.
She did actually. She was married to Julius Caesar before he was killed, and then fell in love with Mark Antony and had kids together.
Caesar and Kleopatra were never married. Kleopatra was married to her second brother Ptolemy XIV at that time. She was Caesar’s lover not his wife. Having her as a mistress was scandalous enough for Caesar but a marriage would have been stupid on his part.
I'm a simple girl, I see Cate, i press like
would've loved to have seen a royal affair mentioned :)
Henriette Bryder do u recommend that i watch it ,is it that good ??
I think it's really good! :D
It's awesome! Truly hearbreaking movie with some of the best acting I've seen in a long time.
such a good movie!!!
This is completely ignoring Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I in the early 1970's, a role she played to perfection.
Prefer Jenna Coleman as Victoria than Emily Blunt
omg number one should have been Glenda jackson as Elizabeth 1 from the series Elizabeth R--omg she didnt even make an honorable mention nor did the brilliant keith Michell as Henry VIII
Any adult who only knows Kenneth Branagh from Harry Potter needs to get out more.
Dan Langdon agree he's a well known Shakespearean actor both on stage and on screen as well as countless other roles to his credit recently saw him in the mystery series wallander
He was fantastic as Henry V.
:(
Mikkel Boe Følsgaard as king Christian VII in a royal affair. Though I doubt MS Mojo has seen it as it is a Danish movie
Louise Andersen I'm sure they'll have to make a separate list for "foreign" movies. Because reasons... ?
I agree; he was marvellous in the role. It's the best Scandinavian film I've ever seen and I've watched quite a few.
Is that the film with Mads Mikkelsen as the advisor? And a Swedish actrice in the lead?
Louise Andersen I agree that is a superb movie!!
I love that film!
Kirsten Dunst was the perfect Marie Antoinette, it wasn't until I watched that movie I just saw Marie Antoinette as a selfish, spoiled queen. Even though it's a movie, it did portray Marie as a human
I believe antoinette was a queen like the rest of the queens, she lived a life of a normal queen. Only they hated her for being Austrian, she came in the wrong time and accused of many "most likely" unreal accusations for the sake of damaging the monarchy. I think antoinette was the victim. The french has always been poor. Its not the marie made them from well-lived to poor. Sadly, the movie didnt exactly show this much.
Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn in the Tudors and I would say Adelaide Kane played an amazing Mary Queen of Scots in Reign
Wow... where is Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth R?
Glenda Jackson in "Elizabeth R" was the best Queen Elizabeth by far.
Honestly Glenda Jackson played the best Queen Elizabeth in the BBC mini series
Michael Jayston as Czar Nicholas Romanov was amazing
How could you ignore Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth I or Keith Mitchel as Henry VIII?
Believe you all blew this one. There are two others from Masterpiece Theater that should be in the top five. Elizabeth R (1971) and The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970). They may not have the production value of current movies and TV shows. But they set the standard in many ways.
Oh yes! I loved The Six Wives of Henry VIII.
Yul Brenner was not "white". He was From a town somewhere in Russia. He was supposedly Cossack. I am very pale, but I am Native American, Creole and have African American blood. I am sensitive about this because I have been dragged into ugly situations when someone makes a racist joke or statement and looks at me for agreement. I am infuriated!!! And tell them!!
christine paris way to stand up for yourself , you go girl ! I wouldn't take it lying down and there's no reason why you should . Why my friends know not to make German or Irish jokes to my face as I have ancestry from both and hate nothing more than outright or casual racism , im the same way you are when someone makes a joke about our indigenous Australians as I consider them more Australian than me ! Just because I'm born here I'm still a descendant of migrants
Elizabeth the Golden Age was a stunning movie. My favorite one about Elizabeth I has to be from the mini series Elizabeth R.
I need to watch more of these movies.
"Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera." Lol! Classic. I'm glad he's on the list.
I was just watching The Tudors, Reign and documentaries about royals!
There is no way Cate Blanchett's Elizabeth approaches Glenda Jackson's Elizabeth R, particularly as Glenda Jackson read every available biography about Elizabeth before filming started and nails it. Glenda was also fortunate to have a much better script - much closer to the real Elizabeth and her story.
Blanchett is outstanding!!
I really like this list, and would just like to add, in hoping that these films get more viewers: 1. Bette Davis in "The private lives of Elizabeth and Essex" - glorious technicolor and Davis really delivering. 2. Nigel Hawthorne in "The madness of King George" - beautiful, tender and perfectly matched by the brilliant Helen Mirren as Mrs King. Maybe these are not historically correct, but the really offer some wonderful acting. And Errol Flynn is as handsome as they come..... Happy watching!
Yul Brynner was born in Vladivostok, which is in the Russian Far East (Asian region), so he's technically Asian.
rockonpurification well, he wasn't Thai or even South-East Asian.
Sarah Amrita, I get your point. It's like an Chinese actor playing an Indian maharaja. Still, it was the 50s, there was no recognizable Asian actors in that time to fit the role other than Yul.
A Chinese palying an Indian maharaja would be weird having said that many Indians can ass for Chinese especially Northeast Indians
saeefa he was the only well known Asian actor of the time that would look believable i mean who else where they meant to cast Bruce lee ?
rockonpurification that would be close to the Mongolian Region wouldn't it ?
elizabeth is the best one for me, it is such an amazing movie. not to mention cate blanchett's marvellous performance!
Uhh.. A Royal Affair?
Alicia Vikander was so awesome, I'm crying on the end of this movie.
Totally!
It was on Dutch tv a couple of months ago, absolutely amazing film!
My absolute favourite
Yessss!!!!
Missed mention of one of the greatest performance of Elizabeth the I: Glenda Jackson BBC Television series 1971
yaaaaas Cate! I so love her on the 2 Elizabeth Movies
Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria is so underrated yet remarkable!!
Saiorse Ronan for Mary Queen of Scots and Margot Robbie for Queen Elizabeth I would be added to at least honorable mention if this list was remade
My favourite portrayals of queens and empresses are Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I, Emily Blunt and Judi Dench as Queen Victoria, Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette, Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II and the voice of Queen Tuya, Angela Lansbury as the voice of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna, and Greta Garbo and Malin Buska as Queen Kristina of Sweden.
The greatest portrayal of Queen Elizabeth is by Glenda Jackson.
With no peer.
Helen Mirren as Elizabeth I. She was, as always, amazing.
Yul Brynner wasn't white ! He was born in the most eastern city of Russia and is very obviously of Asian descent (mainly Mongol). So ok, Mongol is not Thai, but it's not whitewashing !
144Sushi First of all, his accent was more East Asian than Thai. His acting did not base on the way King Rama IV would act. There are tons of historical memo about the king in both positive and negative way. He also played Siamese in the production that doesn’t rely on facts about Siam. The production didn’t make good attempts to understand the real culture. Costumes are more East Asian than Thai and props are not that Siamese or Thai as well. You called this what?
White or not, I always thought there was something about him that made him believable in this part. He isn't like John Wayne as Genghis Khan. I thought maybe he was Greek or something non-white (partly) but didn't know what. There are much better examples of "white-washing" than Brenner imo.
Lisa Kazmier but is that the excuse for making white-washed movie like this? It’s like you said Latino is less discriminated that African American person so it’s okay to keep doing so.
Pattaphol Yuktadatta - I didn't know I was making an excuse but I suppose it could be seen as such. I take it you don't like the show because it is inauthentic and Brenner is just a small part of the story? It is a good show but, indeed, cultural sensitivity or comprehension is not what one is going to find on Broadway or from Hollywood. That's why I'm a historian. That's why people study history; one shouldn't expect accuracy from a staged production of any kind. So I don't. I kinda laugh when I see Daniel Day-Lewis' "Lincoln" lauded by WatchMojo (and others) for its historical accuracy. I always add "accurate for Hollywood" as a big grain of salt. Perhaps because there is rarely accuracy of any kind for some, those people(s) are esp. concerned about this. Idk. I can enjoy "The King and I" for what it is and totally keep in mind what it isn't. Perhaps that is a privilege or luxury.
Lisa Kazmier Well, historical accuracy is not the important thing in show business. That’s what I know. However, if the guy want to play as Thai, the accent should be Thai. Okay, let’s say if you want to make a show about someone from the south who spoke in Southern accent, would it be acceptable to hire actor to speak with Valley accent in the movie. That’s what I’m talking about. Anyway, the whole production is just racist. It is not just the casts.
Here's some fact vs fiction about The Queen with Helen Mirren. If you check the records and reports of the time, in actuality it was the Spencer family who wanted Diana to have a private funeral, and since Diana was no longer a member of the royal family, the Queen acquiesced--and got the blame for it. Similarly, both going to church that morning after the crash and staying at Balmoral was what William and Harry wanted; the Queen acquiesced--and got the blame for it. And she never tried to explain herself when the press chewed her out for these. When Charles Spencer saw the huge outpouring of public grief, he suddenly did an about-face and decided Diana "deserved" a public funeral (the same word he used when deciding she "deserved" to be mourned in private, away from the prying eyes of the media that he said hounded her to her death). Then of course, Spencer used the public occasion to pillory the royals where they could not respond. All this in front of the world and the grieving nephews he claimed to care so much about.
What most people fail to understand is that the full-on ceremonial state funeral Diana fans were demanding was not Diana's by right and wouldn't have been had she still been married to Charles. In fact, she would not have been given a ceremonial state funeral had Charles been king and Diana queen consort. Only the reigning monarch gets a state funeral, unless Parliament and the monarch decree otherwise. The last time this happened was for Winston Churchill. What Diana did end up having was a public ceremonial funeral based heavily on that which the Queen Mum had planned for herself--much to her chagrin as she had carefully and meticulously planned her own memorial and did not appreciate it basically being stolen out from under her, but with the time crunch it was the path of least resistance.
I don't view the royals through rose-colored specs, but in this case they truly did get the short end of public opinion and for the wrong reasons.
DAMIEN LEWIS as Henry VIII in WOLF HALL.
Cate's good, but I think Glenda Jackson is a better Elizabeth. Katherine Hepburn shone as Eleanor of Aquitaine and Peter O'Toole is good as Henry II (plus Timothy Dalton as Philip II of France). Keith Mitchell as Henry VIII deserved an honorable mention as well.
where is Bette Davis?
What about Adelaide Kane as Mary Queen of Scots? Her acting is so legit, yes, the show is not that accurate in historical events but she acts so well as Mary, showing all that wildnes and badass side of the queen. You simply can't deny that she portraits the queen so well.
I don't think casting Yul Brynner is neccessarily white washing, since he is, technically, east asian. Yes, he was born in Russia, but it was st the far east side of the country near the boarders of China, North Korea, and the Sea of Japan. So though he wouldn't really be considered Asian because he was Russian, I wouldn't say its really whitewashing to have cast. But then again, it was made in the fifties.
Isabelle Roberge well, he wasn't Thai or South East Asian.
So yeah, in modern times, it would be a real problem.
Also, the movie might have been a hit in the west but to the people it should have mattered to the most, The Thais, the movie was panned.
And it was also banned if I'm not wrong.
He is a Mongolian descent with a little Russian
Isabelle Roberge yes I agree with that but then there weren't a lot of Asian actors around that would look believable even now I don't see many Thai actors Koreans and Japanese and Chinese yes but not Thai closest to south East Asians you'd get is maybe Vietnamese actors and back in the fifties not many at all apart from yul or Bruce lee limited choice
Glenda Jackson as Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth R.
At first I was like how can they leave jonathan rhys Meyers out of the top spot but I soon as I saw cate blanchett I completely took it back. I must have seen both elizabeth movies twenty times.
The exclusion of Peter O'Toole as Henry II is unforgivable. O"Toole played Henry II in two films, and did so with great success. Both adaptations were amazing. Shame that he was ignored in this.
Kieth Mitchell as Henry VIII in the BBC series
I love Cate Blanchett. She's just so powerful
Cate & Colin rule in my book! Totally agree...Cate as we all know was robbed at the Oscars...
My picks would be Cate and Judi as Elizabeth I and James Maxwell as Henry VII. :) They made the iconic historical figures come to life. It's as if you're watching the real historical figures!
Sad to see no one from the show Versailles on here
Rebecca Ferguson did an amazing job as Elizabeth Woodville and definitely deserves a mention.
Cate was most deserving of the Oscar instead of Gwyneth! Also Dame Judi Dench in Mrs. Brown (Queen Victoria).
I liked the list, but I spotted some serious omissions: 1. Charles Laughton - The Private Life of Henry VIII (Oscar Win), 2. Natalie Dormer - The Tudors, 3. Helena Bonham-Carter - The King's Speech (Oscar Nod), 4. Jenevieve Buyord - Anne of Thousand Days (Oscar Nod), 5. Judi Dench - Shakespeare in Love (Oscar Win)