Fascinating But Not 100% Factual!

Rating: 5/10 (28 February 2017)

If we relied on this movie to pass a history exam we would be in trouble due to its inaccuracies. Robert Dudley's wife (played by Kelly Macdonald) is named Isabel Knollys in this movie. In "real life" Dudley's (second wife) was named Lettice Knolly. We see her half way through the movie dying (murdered) by a "poisoned dress". In actuality "Lettice Knolly Dudley" died of a ripe old age. She was married once before Dudley and again after Dudley passed. We are further confused by an insignificant character named Lettice Howard, (played by Amanda Ryan)who has no historical significance. In the movie the Earl of Arundel (played by Edward Hardwicke) was beheaded, with head then mounted on a pike. History tells us he died at home along "The Strand" in his own bed and being quite aged. The movie would have us believe the suggested betrothal to the Duc d'Anjou (full name was actually Francois, Duc d'Alencon and Anjou)was called off because "the duke" was a cross-dresser (like lady's clothes) and perhaps bi-sexual. In reality, Elizabeth and Francois became great friends and spent much time conversing and writing letters to one another for over four years. Francois, the poor soul was deformed from an early illness and certainly "not a catch". Elizabeth had committed herself to being married to England and did not marry anyone. At least the writers of the movie got that part of the story accurate.