About
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.
Cast
Anne-Marie Duff
as Queen Elizabeth I
Tom Hardy
as Robert Dudley
Ian Hart
as William Cecil - Lord Burghley
Dexter Fletcher
as Sir Thomas Radcliffe - Earl of Sussex
Joanne Whalley
as Queen Mary
Ben Daniels
as Francis Walsingham
Kevin McKidd
as Duke of Norfolk
Emilia Fox
as Amy Dudley
Tara Fitzgerald
as Kat Ashley
Hans Matheson
as Robert Devereux - Earl of Essex
Sienna Guillory
as Lettice Knollys
Robert Pugh
as Lord Chancellor Gardiner
Ewen Bremner
as Sir James Melville
Emma Kennedy
as Ellen
Ulrich Thomsen
as Baron
Jason Watkins
as Christopher Hatton
Richard Syms
as Courtier
Matthias Gibbig
as Duke of Anjou
Enzo Cilenti
as Jean de Simier
Stephen Walters
as Gilbert Gifford
Seasons
Episodes
Miniseries
Part 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
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
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
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.
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