Helen Mirren is rather fond of wearing a crown – from her dazzling portrayal of Catherine the Great to her unforgettable performance as Elizabeth I, she’s earned her place as on-screen royalty. As we patiently await her return to MobLand (where she’s a very different kind of queen), we’ve unearthed her best performance yet in The Queen – a period drama so exceptional, you’ll want to watch it tonight.
The drama, which first arrived in cinemas in 2006, follows Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) during a testing time in her reign. Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) has just been welcomed into office as the new Labour Prime Minister and the nation is rocked by the death of Princess Diana. As the public grief becomes impossible to ignore, the drama explores how the stoic Queen and modern-thinking Blair respond to the crisis.
With the drama available to watch now, here’s everything you need to know about The Queen including the plot, cast and how to watch it.
What is The Queen about?
The drama follows Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) in the days after one of the most widely reported events in British history – the death of Princess Diana in 1997. When the shocking news breaks that Diana has died in a car crash in Paris, Britain enters an intense period of public mourning. Meanwhile, the royal family are unable to comprehend a public response to the tragedy, treating it as a private family matter.
Meanwhile, Tony Blair (Michael Sheen), the newly elected Prime Minister, faces mounting pressure to get a public response from the head of state to the death of Prince Charles’s (Alex Jennings) former wife. With the public opinion of the Windsors rapidly declining and media pressure intensifying, the drama follows the relationship between the Queen and Blair as he tries to persuade her that silence could be deeply damaging.
Helen Mirren shared what she took from playing the late Queen. ‘I really got to love the Queen by playing her,’ Dame Helen previously told W Magazine. ‘I think she’s a person who is genuine, she refuses to be fake.’
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Is there a trailer for The Queen?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Queen below.
Who’s in the cast of The Queen?
The cast of The Queen includes:
- Helen Mirren (MobLand, Eye In The Sky) as Queen Elizabeth II
- Michael Sheen (Good Omens) as Tony Blair
- James Cromwell (Succession) as Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
- Helen McCrory (Peaky Blinders) as Cherie Blair
- Alex Jennings (The Crown) as Charles, Prince of Wales
- Roger Allam (Endeavour, The Choral) as Robin Janvrin
- Sylvia Syms (Victim) as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
- Tim McMullan (Magpie Murders, Moonflower Murders) as Stephen Lamport
- Mark Bazeley (Home Fires) as Alastair Campbell
- Douglas Reith (Downton Abbey) as Lord Airlie
Is The Queen any good?
In one word – yes. Helen Mirren’s portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II is nothing short of perfection. It’s vulnerable, witty and composed against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent times of her reign. And it’s no wonder her performance earned her both an Oscar and a BAFTA – remaining one the most defining roles of her career! The film is also a fascinating look into the social fabric of Britain at the time, as Princess Diana’s death highlighted a wider clash between tradition and modernity, with the Queen embracing duty and Blair promoting a new vision for the country.
How can I watch The Queen?
The Queen is available to watch now on ITVX.
What other period dramas can I watch now?
For a fascinating glimpse into another memorable British era, Mr Selfridge takes us back to the early 20th century where we follow one of history’s most flamboyant businessmen, Harry Gordon Selfridge, as he tries to build the world’s most impressive department store. Mr Selfridge is available to watch now on ITVX. For an exceptional period comedy, we’d suggest Blandings, which takes us to Shropshire in 1929 and stars Jennifer Saunders, a widowed and stern matriarch who’s trying to keep her family of crumbling aristocrats together. Blandings is available to watch now on ITVX.
