Long May She Reign

Rating: 10/10 (4 February 2019)

A perfect example of a masterpiece rising from the ashes of tragedy, Helen Mirren's legendary portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II as she comes to terms with the death of Princess Diana (Laurence Burg) is a timeless and powerful piece. There is a majestic subtlety to Mirren's performance at the heart of what is essentially a character study of the Royal Family during one of their darkest moments, and the use of live news footage from 1997 helps to fully immerse the audience in the real life drama of the story. As such, Mirren's performance acts to elevate the Queen beyond the countless hats and coats, the waves from the balcony, the smiles from the carriage that we as the public see and presents us with Elizabeth Alexandra Mary the wife, mother and grandmother.