Fanning Out
Thanks to ‘Victoria,’ a look at movie monarchs
Included among subjects that people never seem to tire of: the royals.
Maybe it’s been a case lately of such globally popular couples as William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan, keeping the topic fresh and contemporary. Whatever the reason, it doesn’t hurt the makers of movies and television programs – a current example being the Jenna Coleman-starring PBS “Masterpiece” drama “Victoria,” which has just started its third season.
Thus, it’s a good and appropriate time to reflect on the film world’s most impressive portrayals of royalty. Here are some of our favorites.

As the British king with many loves, Laughton became one of the earliest recipients of the Academy Award for best actor.

Though he had other great roles, the signature one for Brynner had to be his Oscar-winning re-creation of his stage role as the stern ruler challenged by the ideas of schoolteacher Anna (Deborah Kerr).

A true match of wills and skills was yielded by this pairing of performers, with Hepburn earning her third Oscar as best actress.

Though the story is told from the stance of Anne Boleyn (Genevieve Bujold), Burton did some of his best later work as the monarch who had to decide whether she should live or die.

Though the script used dramatic license in purporting that Mary encountered Elizabeth I (played by Glenda Jackson), Redgrave was Oscar-nominated for her portrayal.

Also the film’s director and screenwriter, Branagh was superb as Shakespeare’s version of the king who led a campaign of his own against France during the Hundred Years War.

The great Hawthorne put total dedication and energy into his performance as the dementia-afflicted King George III.

While Shakespeare also supplied the basis for this retelling of another of his classics, the story was transposed onto the 1930s with a riveting McKellen in the lead.

The magnificent Dench won a Oscar as Elizabeth I in “Shakespeare in Love,” but just as impressive are her reenactments of another queen’s two surprising friendships.

Not only did Blanchett score with critics as Elizabeth I in this film, she got to revisit the queen by depicting the later years of her reign in “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” (2007).

Mirren won nearly every major film award in sight for her depiction of Elizabeth II in the aftermath of Princess Diana’s death.

The title tells the subject in this dramatization of Queen Victoria’s early years on the throne and her relationship with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend).

An outstanding Firth with an Oscar and many more honors by depicting the speaking problem the king had, and the steps he took to overcome them with a therapist’s (Geoffrey Rush) help.
Emily Blunt and Rupert Friend in Young Victoria was a fantastic movie. That was my favorite. Elizabeth with Kate Blanchette was also a really good movie. I’ve watched the others but these two are my faves for sure.