Elizabeth

Written by
Michael Hirst
Release date
23 October 1998
Starring
Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Christopher Eccleston, Richard Attenborough, Daniel Craig, John Gielgud, Fanny Ardant, Kelly Macdonald

Produced by Working Title Films and PolyGram, Elizabeth was Michael Hirst’s breakout feature, launching Cate Blanchett’s international career and earning global acclaim.

Following the rise of Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) from uncertain heir to the Virgin Queen, the film was praised for its bold visual style, gripping court intrigue, and Blanchett’s magnetic central performance. Described as “a thrilling political thriller in a corset” (The Guardian) and “a stunningly original take on the making of a monarch” (Empire), the film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won Best British Film at the BAFTAs.