From the day she was born until the day she died, Elizabeth I was surrounded by enemies who threatened her crown and her life. Actress and supermodel Lily Cole stars in this lavish docudrama examining the struggles, animosities and assassination attempts that shaped the rule of one of England's most celebrated monarchs. 3 episodes, 2.5 hrs, 1 DVD.

Episodes

Episode 1: Battle for the Throne
Born in 1533 to King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth was declared illegitimate when her mother was beheaded. Restored to the line of succession with the help of Henry's final wife, Catherine Parr, Elizabeth spent years thwarting the attentions of Catherine's new husband, Thomas Seymour. Later, Elizabeth's sister, Queen Mary, accused Elizabeth of treason in a plot to take the throne.

Episode 2: The Enemy Within
Elizabeth became queen at the age of 25, but her reign was far from safe. As a high-profile Protestant monarch surrounded by Catholics in Europe, Elizabeth was pressured to marry and produce a Protestant heir, drawing the ire of her Catholic cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots.

Episode 3: Death of a Dynasty
As Europe was being torn apart in a religious war, Elizabeth faced her greatest threat yet: Philip II of Spain, the Catholic king who built the Spanish armada, the most powerful military fleet in the world. After Philip's defeat, Elizabeth was adored by her subjects, but there remained one enemy she was powerless to defy: old age.

Details

Packaging: Boxed
Run Time: 135 minutes
Format: Widescreen
Number of discs: 1
Language: English
Foreign Language Subtitles: No
Color or B&W: Color
CC: No
SDH: Yes
Region Code: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Audio Format: 2.0 Dolby Digital
Rating: NR
Disclaimer: Contains violence, sexual situations, and disturbing images

Cast

Lily Cole

Press

"Even Tudor buffs will be surprised by some of the revelations" — Daily Mail (UK)