The Queen is an intimate behind the scenes glimpse at the interaction between HM Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Tony Blair during their struggle, following the death of Diana, to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal family and the public's demand for an overt display of mourning.
Helen Mirren
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Michael Sheen
Tony Blair
James Cromwell
Philip of Edinburgh
Helen McCrory
Cherie Blair
Alex Jennings
Charles III of the United Kingdom
Roger Allam
Robin Janvrin
Sylvia Syms
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Paul Barrett
Trevor Rees-Jones
Tim McMullan
Stephen Lamport
Douglas Reith
Lord Airlie
Mark Bazeley
Alastair Campbell
Robin Soans
Equerry
Lola Peploe
Janvrin's Secretary
Joyce Henderson
Balmoral Maid
Pat Laffan
Head Ghillie
Amanda Hadingue
Queen's Dresser
John McGlynn
Balmoral Head Ghillie
Gray O'Brien
Charles' Valet
Dolina MacLennan
Balmoral Switchboard Operator
Julian Firth
Blair's Aide
Earl Cameron
Portrait Artist
Elliot Levey
TV Director
Anthony Debaeck
Catholic Priest
Wolfgang Pissors
German Reporter
Xavier Castano
French Bodyguard
Khanya Mkangisa
Director
Stephen Frears
Screenplay
Peter Morgan
Story Editor
Jan Fleischer
September 3, 2023
7
I'm not sure if Stephen Frears was really just trying to kick-start the Tony Blair fan club when he made this highly speculative and frankly rather unkind feature about how Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) - and, to an extent, her family - dealt with the aftermath of the death of the divorced Princess of Wales in Paris. Mr Blair (Michael Shannon) has only just been elected and together with his pretty openly hostile (to the monarchy) wife Cherie (Helen McCrory) heads to the palace for his appointment audience. When the tragedy does ensue, the Royal Family are at Balmoral in Aberdeenshire and the remainder of this film - intercut with occassional news actuality - postulates on just how the relationship between the prime minister and his Sovereign might have played out in the face of the growing and totally irrational public outpourings of grief and frustrations following the accident. Mirren and Shannon are both on great form here and even if the former is more of a mimic than an actress with this part, she still imbues enough characterisation for us to accept the plausibility that this might just have been the response of the actual Queen Elizabeth. It's beautifully shot and it was nice to see Sylvia Syms on screen again, albeit briefly and again, rather unsympathetically. I can't help but wonder how much of this has become the gospel in many people's eyes as to just how things did happen back in 1997. Somehow, I very much doubt it - but it's interesting to watch nonetheless.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$15,000,000.00
Revenue:
$123,384,128.00