The Duchess ( film ) - wikipedia The Duchess ( film ) The Duchess Theatrical release poster Directed by Saul Dibb Produced by Michael Kuhn Gabrielle Tana Screenplay by Jeffrey Hatcher Anders Thomas Jensen Saul Dibb Based on Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire by Amanda Foreman Starring Keira Knightley Ralph Fiennes Hayley Atwell Charlotte Rampling Dominic Cooper Music by Rachel Portman Cinematography Gyula Pados Edited by Masahiro Hirakubo Production company Qwerty Films Magnolia Mae Films Distributed by Pathe Distribution ( UK ) StudioCanal ( Germany ) Release date 5 September 2008 ( 2008 - 09 - 05 ) ( United Kingdom ) Running time 110 minutes Country United Kingdom Italy France United States Language English Budget £ 13.5 million Box office $43,306,325 The Duchess is a 2008 British drama film directed by Saul Dibb. It is based on Amanda Foreman 's biography of the 18th - century English aristocrat Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire. It was released in September 2008 in the United Kingdom. The film received the Academy Award for Best Costume Design at the 81st ceremony in 2009. The film costumer was Michael O'Connor Contents 1 Plot 2 Main cast 3 Production 4 Release 4.1 Marketing 4.2 Theatrical release 4.3 Critical response 4.4 Accolades 5 References 6 External links Plot The young Georgiana is contracted in marriage to William Cavendish, in order that he produce a male heir. A motherless child, Charlotte, comes to live with them. William expects Georgiana to mother the child. Georgiana gives birth to a girl. William is not pleased. Georgiana socializes with Lady Bess Foster at Bath. She is invited to live with them since she has no where to go. William has an affair with Bess. Georgiana feels robbed of her only friend. Bess explains to Georgiana that her motive is to regain contact with her three sons. Bess continues to live with them. Georgiana starts an affair with Charles Grey. William is outraged that Georgiana should suggest that since he has Bess that she should have Charles. William rapes Georgiana ; a male child is the result. Bess encourages the affair between Georgiana and Charles. The Duke threatens to end Charles ' political career and to forbid Georgiana from seeing her children again if she does not end the relationship. Georgiana ends her relationship with Grey, and she tells William that she is pregnant with Charles ' child. She is sent to the countryside where she secretly gives birth to their daughter, Eliza Courtney. The child is given to the Grey family to raise. Georgiana finds comfort in Bess ' friendship, and gives permission for William and Bess to marry. Georgiana in secret visits her daughter Eliza. Eliza named her own daughter Georgiana. Charles becomes Prime Minister. Main cast Keira Knightley as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire Ralph Fiennes as William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire Hayley Atwell as Lady Elizabeth ' Bess ' Foster Charlotte Rampling as Georgiana Spencer, Countess Spencer, Georgiana 's mother Dominic Cooper as Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey Aidan McArdle as The Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan Simon McBurney as The Right Honourable Charles James Fox Sebastian Applewhite as Sir Augustus Clifford, 1st Baronet Calvin Dean as Devonshire House Servant Emily Jewell as Nanny Richard McCabe as Sir James Hare Bruce Mackinnon as actor playing Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal Alistair Petrie as Heaton Georgia King as actress playing Lady Teazle in The School for Scandal Camilla Arfwedson as Lady Charlotte Production The Duchess was produced by British Qwerty Films and American Magnolia Mae Films, with financial support from BBC Films, French Pathé and Italian BIM Distribuzione. The film was shot at Twickenham Film Studios and on location at Chatsworth, Bath, Holkham Hall, Clandon Park, Kedleston Hall, Somerset House, King 's College London and the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. Regarding lead actress Keira Knightley, director Saul Dibb said The Duchess was `` a chance to take a character from late childhood -- she 's married at 17 -- into full adulthood, 10 years later. '' It was also a chance for Knightley to work with Ralph Fiennes, whom she regarded as one of her most accomplished co-stars to date ; Dibb said, `` When I said, ' We 've got Ralph interested in playing the Duke ', we both took a gulp and went, ' F -- -. ' ( sic )... But I did n't for one second feel that she was n't up to the task. '' Originally the film was to be directed by Susanne Bier. Release Marketing The film advertisements which featured Diana, Princess of Wales caused the film to be branded `` crudely promoted '' Studio executives wanted to use digitally altered images of Keira Knightley in promotional materials. The alterations were specifically aimed at enlarging her breasts. Knightley objected to the alterations, and they were not used. The marketing campaign also drew criticism for its use of Diana, Princess of Wales, who was an indirect descendant of Georgiana 's. The advertising used slogans such as `` two women related by ancestry and united by destiny '' and used `` There were three people in her marriage, '' the latter being an almost identical copy of a famous quote that Diana, Princess of Wales uttered during her Panorama interview. Michael Hellicar of the Daily Mail stated that `` the Diana link is being so heavily, and it has to be said, so cynically and crudely promoted. '' Amanda Foreman, author of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, criticised the marketing strategy too, saying, `` They probably thought the only way to get the young popcorn - eating brigade to see the film was if they thought it was about Diana, but it was n't necessary and they should never have done that. And the line ' united by destiny ' is wrong. I do n't think Georgiana actually died in a carriage crash. '' Theatrical release The BBFC has classified the film as a 12A, citing the scene of implied marital rape, which is `` delivered through Georgiana 's screams of protest, heard from outside the bedroom door. '' The BBFC 's PG rating allows implied sex as long as it is discreet and infrequent ; the board decided that the scene in The Duchess is more than `` discreet '' or `` implied ''. The film had its world premiere on 3 September 2008, in Leicester Square and was released nationwide in the United Kingdom on 5 September. Critical response The film received mostly positive reviews. Rotten Tomatoes gives a score of 61 % based on 163 reviews, with the consensus that `` While The Duchess treads the now - familiar terrain of the corset - ripper, the costumes look great and Keira Knightley 's performance is stellar in this subtly feminist, period drama. '' Most reviewers highly praised Knightley and Fiennes ' performances. Time Out London wrote : `` ( Saul Dibb ) is also helped enormously by a mature, restrained portrayal from Knightley, a masterclass in passive aggression from Fiennes and a performance of tender seduction from Atwell. '' The Epoch Times writes, `` Ralph Fiennes brings a human quality to ( the Duke ) by avoiding any intent, exaggeration or ill will '' and `` Keira Knightley 's performance gains new depth -- she not only perfectly portrays a witty and feminine Georgiana early in the film, but also a caring mother, and an abandoned woman later on. Also remarkable in this role is Knightley 's ability to portray the strengths, weaknesses, and the internal hurdles of Georgiana, as well as her internal contemplation. '' Film Ireland writes `` It is a slow movie but it is well acted with Knightley and Fiennes suited to their roles, especially Fiennes who gives a formidable and powerful performance. '' Cameron Bailey, the co-chair of the Toronto International Film Festival comments, `` The Duchess Of Devonshire, with Keira Knightley, which is a beautiful film and she gives a really mature performance. You 're seeing her really turn into something beyond the kind of pretty face that we 've seen her do already so well. But she 's actually a very serious actress and she 's turning into a great, great performer. '' Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian wrote that `` Dibb 's movie looks good '' but complained the film was `` exasperatingly bland and slow - moving at all times '' handing out a 2 of 5 star rating. However, Paul Hurley gave the film 8 / 10 and called The Duchess `` an excellent new film '' and states that `` The Duchess stands a good chance of taking home some very big prizes at the end of the year ''. Accolades Awards ceremony Award Category Subject Result Academy Awards Best Costume Design Michael O'Connor Won Best Art Direction Michael Carlin and Rebecca Alleway Nominated British Academy Film Awards Best Costume Design Michael O'Connor Won Best Make - Up and Hair Daniel Phillips and Jan Archibald Nominated British Independent Film Awards Best Actress Keira Knightley Nominated Best Supporting Actor Ralph Fiennes Nominated Best Supporting Actress Hayley Atwell Nominated Best Technical Achievement Michael O'Connor ( Costume ) Nominated London Film Critics ' Circle British Actor of the Year Ralph Fiennes Nominated British Actress in a Supporting Role Hayley Atwell Nominated Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor Ralph Fiennes Nominated People 's Choice Awards Favorite Actress Keira Knightley Nominated Favorite Independent Movie The Duchess Nominated Satellite Awards Best Art Direction and Production Design Karen Wakefield and Michael Carlin Nominated Best Cinematography Gyula Pados Nominated Best Costume Design Michael O'Connor Won References Jump up ^ The Daily Telegraph, 16 August 2008 : On - set report : The Duchess Re-linked 2013 - 12 - 16 Jump up ^ DAWTREY, Adam ( 29 July 2007 ) Keira Knightley set for Duchess : Actress to play the controversial blueblood, Variety ^ Jump up to : `` 2008 Fall Movie Guide : Preview : The Duchess ''. Entertainment Weekly, Issue # 1007 / 1008. Time Inc. 22 -- 29 August 2008. p. 50. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 02. Jump up ^ ( 18 September 2006 ) Susanne Bier finds The Duchess : Open Hearts helmer glamming up for period love story, Total Film Jump up ^ Red Eye w / Greg Gutfeld. Fox News. Broadcast date : 30 July 2008. ^ Jump up to : Michael Hellicar ( 2008 - 08 - 29 ). `` Diana and me -- by Keira... or how movie marketers used the princess ' troubled marriage to promote The Duchess ''. Daily Mail. Retrieved 2010 - 03 - 23. Jump up ^ `` The Duchess rated 12A by the BBFC '' British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved on 13 August 2008. Jump up ^ Pamela McClintock ( 2008 - 03 - 31 ). `` 2008 awards season shaping up ''. Variety. Retrieved 2008 - 04 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Knightley stars at Duchess launch ''. BBCNews. 2008 - 09 - 03. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 04. Jump up ^ `` The Duchess ( 2008 ) ''. Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Jump up ^ `` The Duchess ''. Time Out London. 9 February 2008. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ ( 2 ) Jump up ^ `` Brad Pitt And Keira Knightley Among Big Names Confirmed For T.O. Film Fest - CityNews Toronto ''. Citynews.ca. 19 August 2008. Retrieved 30 September 2017. Jump up ^ TalkTalk web studio. `` The Duchess review ''. tiscali.co.uk. Jump up ^ AA ( 2009 - 01 - 22 ). `` Oscars 2009 Nominations = Academy Awards ''. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 22. Jump up ^ `` Film Winners in 2009 ''. bafta.org. British Academy Film Awards. Retrieved 8 February 2009. Jump up ^ `` BIFA 2008 Nominations ''. Bifa.org.uk. 2008 - 12 - 13. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 13. Jump up ^ Silverman, Stephen ( 2008 - 12 - 11 ). `` Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt Score Golden Globe Nods ''. People. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 11. Jump up ^ `` Nominations & Winners ''. Golden Globes. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 12. Jump up ^ PCA ( 2008 - 12 - 13 ). `` PCA Nominations = People 's Choice Awards ''. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 13. Jump up ^ none ( 2008 - 12 - 13 ). `` 2008 13th Annual SATELLITE Awards Nominees = Satellite Awards ''. Retrieved 2008 - 12 - 13. External links The Duchess in the British Film Institute 's `` Explore film... '' database The Duchess on IMDb The Duchess at Rotten Tomatoes Works directed by Saul Dibb Bullet Boy ( 2004 ) The Line of Beauty ( 2006 ) The Duchess ( 2008 ) Suite Française ( 2015 ) Journey 's End ( 2017 ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Duchess_(film)&oldid=804472037 '' Categories : 2008 films English - language films 2000s historical films British films British biographical films British historical films British romantic drama films British epic films Films based on biographies Films set in England Films directed by Saul Dibb Films set in country houses Films that won the Best Costume Design Academy Award Qwerty Films films Rape in film Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from September 2017 Use dmy dates from June 2016 Use British English from June 2016 Film articles using image size parameter Talk Contents About Wikipedia Чӑвашла Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Italiano עברית Magyar Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Polski Português Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 9 October 2017, at 06 : 30. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: who played the title role in the 2008 film the duchess
Answer: Keira Knightley