Actors - Elizabeth

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	Actors - Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a 1998 movie about the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, written by Michael Hirst and directed by Shekhar Kapur. It stars Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Christopher Eccleston and Richard Attenborough.

Academy Awards

Won: Best Makeup - Jenny Shircore.
Nominated: Best Picture - Alison Owen, Eric Fellner, Tim Bevan
.
Nominated: Best Actress in a Leading Role - Cate Blanchett
.
Nominated: Best Cinematography - Remi Adefarasin.
Nominated: Best Costume Design - Alexandra Byrne
.
Nominated: Best Music, Original Dramatic Score - David Hirschfelder.
Nominated: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration - John Myhre, Peter Howitt
.

Wings TEC Critics Awards

Nominated: Best Movie.
Won: Best Actress - Cate Blanchett
.
Won: Best Supporting Actor - Geofrey Rush.
Nominated: Best Director - Shekhar Kapur
.
Nominated: Best Art Direction.
Nominated: Best Cinematography.
Won: Best Costumes Design.
Won: Best Make Up.
Won: Best Hair Design.
Nominated: Best Original Score.
Nominated: Best Cast.

Plot

In 1558, Roman Catholic Mary I of England died of a cancerous tumor in her uterus, leaving her Protestant half sister Elizabeth I of England as Queen. Elizabeth had previously been jailed for a supposed conspiracy to murder Mary, but has now been freed for her coronation. Throughout the film, Elizabeth is courted by suitors (including Henri, Duc d'Anjou et de Bourbon, the future king Henri III of France), whom she rejects. Instead, she beds her childhood friend, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is a Catholic working under the Protestant Queen's rule who conspires to have her murdered. Elizabeth also deals with the effective ruler of Scotland, Mary of Guise, who allies with France to attack England's forces. At the end of the film, Norfolk is executed for his conspiracy and Mary is assassinated by Elizabeth's advisor, Francis Walsingham. The film ends only five years into Elizabeth's reign. A sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age is in discussion.

Controversy

The film's historical accuracy has been widely questioned, especially concerning Elizabeth's relationship with her friend Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, whether she actually ordered the assassination of Mary of Guise, and others. Also, historians have been skeptical about the choice of director, his knowledge of the history of the Queen and the Elizabethan era in general, as he freely admitted to the studios that he learned everything he knew by reading a few books only months before filming began. Also, many of the significant changes Elizabeth made in English (and global) history were only briefly mentioned in the end, or looked over entirely, in order to leave room for a love story.

Locations

Some filming for Elizabeth occurred at Bolton Castle, Alnwick Castle and Durham Cathedral.

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