Elizabeth I
Portraying Elizabeth
An interview with Helen Mirren
How were you approached about playing Elizabeth I?
George Faber and Suzan Harrison, the executive producers, together with writer Nigel Williams, approached me with the concept, and who would say no to that! Having read the script and met with Nigel, I was lucky enough to be able to work with him and get involved with the development of the script over the following few months.
What is your opinion of Elizabeth?
I’ve not seen many portrayals of her – I don’t think we have seen enough. The last major portrayal on television was by Glenda Jackson, a long time ago. Elizabeth was such an extraordinary character and is such an important part of our history, but much more than that – she was amazing person.
Why do you think Elizabeth has continued to fascinate us?
I think there are many explanations for this. One is that she was so brilliant at branding herself. The image of Elizabeth is so iconic – if you put the gear on, you look like her. So she’d branded herself very, very well. She was highly conscious of marketing herself.
There’s also the reality that, sort of accidentally, her reign covered rather an extraordinary time in British history and, indeed, in the history of the world: the discovery of the new world, the stealing of the wealth of Central and South America, which suddenly made Europe exceedingly rich, which in turn opened up art and science and all kinds of things. It was an extraordinary period in European history.
Then there’s the fact that she was a woman, which was obviously hugely important, and the fact that she reigned for such a long time. That was very rare – even for someone to live that long was unusual.
Finally, there’s the mystery of her sexuality – the so-called Virgin Queen – did she or didn’t she screw? Supposedly she didn’t, and yet her life is full of relationships with men that are quite excessive and incredibly intense.
What references did you use for research beyond the script?
Well, I read history books for the first time, really properly. I studied two really comprehensive books on Elizabeth – Anne Somerset’s biography Elizabeth I and Elizabeth the Queen by Alison Weir. In addition, I read some of Elizabeth's own writings, as well as books on contemporary Elizabethan life.
All you can do is look at history through the eyes of all the different historians, and then make up your own mind based on the evidence. What we do know are certain things commented on at the time. You look at those truths and make up your mind about how and why they happened.
Why did she shut herself away for four days when she discovered that Leicester was secretly married? Why did this discovery lead her to banish him from court for seven years. Why did she refuse Essex something, only to give in to him after he, in turn, locked himself away for four days? We know these things happened, but we don’t know why. So, as actors and creative people, we fill in with our own imaginations what we think may have happened.
I also studied paintings, portraits and contemporary pictures of the period, as well as buildings – particularly the Tower of London, which is not far away from where I live. Portraits are valuable to a certain extent, but they’re a very false image of someone – especially in those days, as they were painted for political reasons.
How did Elizabeth view the role of the monarchy?
Elizabeth views the role of a monarch as a God-given thing. I think that was incredibly important to her. The most brutal, sadistic, psychotic anointed sovereign had, to her, more value than anyone who, for the most righteous of reasons, would rebel against a monarch. She was totally undemocratic.
What are your thoughts on Elizabeth as a feminist icon?
Elizabeth was as alien to the concept of feminism as she was to the concept of democracy. She did very well in a man's world. She was intelligent, ambitious, egotistical and probably quite vain. However, it was all of these attributes combined that made Elizabeth the very powerful person she was.
What did you think when you saw yourself in the mirror as Elizabeth for the first time?
The whole process of creating my visual persona as Elizabeth was evolutionary. Her character had to be discussed – what she would be wearing, what sorts of wigs, which hair colour, her age, her demeanour, etc. Although the process of building up the character is a layered one, every time I get into costume I am still taken by surprise when I see my reflection in the mirror.
How do you think Elizabeth was with her subjects?
She was brilliant – she found a way to be easy with them. I think she had a little touch of the early Diana in the sense that she made people feel relaxed with her. She chatted and joked with them, she wasn’t haughty or withholding from ordinary people, and they loved her for it.
Wasn’t Elizabeth a rather cold, proud and aloof figure?
No! Read the history. She was forever crying, weeping, hysterically angry, very sweet, laughing. She was an emotional person. She was told off for giggling sometimes, making fun of people when she was supposed to be serious.
What do you think of her relationship with Leicester?
Leicester was the love of her life. If Elizabeth had been an ordinary woman, she would, I’m sure, have married him.
Possibly their relationship actually only really existed because she was the queen and, as such, could and did confer incredible wealth upon her favourites. She gave Leicester Kenilworth Castle along with a host of other things. So to be on the queen’s good side meant a ticket to incredible wealth and power. She spent her whole life surrounded by unbelievable sycophancy and ass licking.
Leicester was obviously very witty and funny and he made Elizabeth laugh a lot. I think that was the nub of their relationship. He was naughty and, at the same time, respectful – he managed that balance extremely well. He was very attractive, very athletic and very physical. He loved going to war but was a hopeless general. He wasn’t a very popular man because, I suspect, he had a very acid tongue.
How did the set design influence your performance?
Our set was based very specifically on the historical understanding. You see palaces that still exist. When you start living in that environment, you begin to understand how it works. I love the sense of the dark, slightly fetishistic luxury, which I think is very beautiful – very sensual but dark.
