Countless films and TV shows have been made about Henry VIII and Elizabeth I but very few of Mary I of England. She did not have 6 spouses, she did not form the Church of England, she did not reign the Golden Age, she didn't defeat the Armada, but her story is no less compelling.
This story shows us just how wretched the once beloved princess has become. Cast aside, called a bastard, royal titles stripped and to stand by and watch her dearest mother suffer made Mary bitter.
Unloved and unwanted she is suddenly thrust into the limelight when she inherits the throne. Fervently religious she longs to restore England back to the true faith Catholicism.
Her unpopular marriage to Philip of Spain and her persecution earned her the name Bloody Mary, through the ages, but she was no more ruthless than kings and queens before and after her.
The portrayal of Mary by Miranda French was unparallelled, you truly see the lonely, desolate, love starved Queen who falls completely in love with her young husband and would do anything to please him. The phantom pregnancy scenes are heart breaking, all she wanted was to become a mother to have a child to love and who would love her unconditionally.
The only issue I have with this film is the one I have with all the portrayals of Philip Habsburg of Spain. By all historical accounts, he was a slight man, pale skinned, fair haired and pale blue eyes, yet here as in other films including Elizabeth: The Golden Age he is portrayed as the typical swarthy dark Spaniard.
This film is well worth I really do wish more film makers would pay this story more attention and produce something on a grand scale much in the style of Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. This story deserves to be told properly.
This story shows us just how wretched the once beloved princess has become. Cast aside, called a bastard, royal titles stripped and to stand by and watch her dearest mother suffer made Mary bitter.
Unloved and unwanted she is suddenly thrust into the limelight when she inherits the throne. Fervently religious she longs to restore England back to the true faith Catholicism.
Her unpopular marriage to Philip of Spain and her persecution earned her the name Bloody Mary, through the ages, but she was no more ruthless than kings and queens before and after her.
The portrayal of Mary by Miranda French was unparallelled, you truly see the lonely, desolate, love starved Queen who falls completely in love with her young husband and would do anything to please him. The phantom pregnancy scenes are heart breaking, all she wanted was to become a mother to have a child to love and who would love her unconditionally.
The only issue I have with this film is the one I have with all the portrayals of Philip Habsburg of Spain. By all historical accounts, he was a slight man, pale skinned, fair haired and pale blue eyes, yet here as in other films including Elizabeth: The Golden Age he is portrayed as the typical swarthy dark Spaniard.
This film is well worth I really do wish more film makers would pay this story more attention and produce something on a grand scale much in the style of Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age. This story deserves to be told properly.