By: Alex Phuong –
Queen Elizabeth I remains a historical figure who exemplifies European royalty. Indeed, her contributions to the world are both powerful and undeniable. Because of her enduring legacy, it is no surprise that several Hollywood actresses would portray this iconic figure. Elizabeth I might not have ruled as long as Queen Victoria, but Elizabeth I will always remain unforgettable.
Bette Davis was one of the first women to portray Elizabeth I on film. In The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939), Bette Davis plays Elizabeth I as compelling production design and cinematography beautifully recaptured Elizabethan England. Unfortunately, Bette Davis did not earn an Academy Awards nomination for playing the beloved queen. Coincidentally, she did co-star with Olivia de Havilland, one of the most famous stars from Gone with the Wind.
Decades later, 1998 was a year in film history that dealt directly with European history. In fact, all five of the “Best Picture” nominees of 1998 focused on Shakespearean romance, World War II drama, and of course, Elizabeth I. During the Oscar telecast, Whoopi Goldberg famously strutted around the stage dressed as Elizabeth I in a comedic manner. In fact, she even called herself “The African Queen.” That joke does have humor because it is both a reference to the Katharine Hepburn film as well as plays on the fact that, well, it’s Whoopi Goldberg. That joke might not work quite as well in 2021, but it was still clever nevertheless.
That same year, Cate Blanchett delivered one of her best performances in Elizabeth (1998). Many people felt offended when Blanchett lost the “Best Actress” Academy Award that same year to Gwyneth Paltrow. Furthermore, Judi Dench won awards for playing Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love even though her performance only lasted a few minutes. Nevertheless, the Academy has proven that its members do succumb to “Oscar bait.”
Sadly, both critics and audiences have been complaining about the poor quality of modern cinema. For example, Mary Queen of Scots received both acclaim and criticism after its initial release in 2018. Fortunately, Margot Robbie did earn some nominations for portraying Elizabeth I, but only as a supporting role. That was partially because Soarise Ronan had the lead as the notorious “Bloody Mary.”
Elizabeth I did much to prove that she was more than “The Virgin Queen.” Hopefully Hollywood would continue to honor her legacy even though the future remains unknown.
