A Blunt Portrayal Of Queen Victoria

The enduring image of Queen Victoria is one of a plump, stern faced old lady, always dressed in black and never smiling - a hardened woman. This is hardly the way to remember a woman who was, arguably, the greatest British monarch of the last 500 years.

New film 'The Young Victoria' seeks to smash this preconception and give a more deserving picture of a monarch who always put her country first and lead her country through Europe's 'Belle Epoque' - one of its most prosperous periods in history.

The film concentrates on the early tribulations and blossoming love of a younger Victoria, the delicate niece of King William IV, who ascended to the throne in 1837 aged 18.

As Rupert Friend, who plays Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, in the film, said: "I think the impression we have of Queen Victoria is this lady in black with a handkerchief on her head, mourning, whereas this film shows the young girl she was.

"It portrays a young girl who loved dancing and wanted to fall in love and was very passionate and committed."

Taking the lead alongside Rupert is Golden Globe winning actress Emily Blunt - most famous for her role in 'The Devil Wears Prada' - performing her first lead as the young queen. They are joined by Jim Broadbent, playing Victoria's uncle King William IV and Miranda Richardson, who is the Duchess of Kent, Victoria's mother. Other big names behind the picture include Martin Scorsese, who co-produced alongside Graham King and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York.

Emily said she was so captivated by the team behind the film and the script, she was prepared to go to any lengths to get the part.

She said: "It's rare that I make a plea for a part and I did really want this one. It's probably the only part I've ever really gone down on my hand and knees for."

'The Young Victoria' depicts the dawning and establishment of the queen's persona, how she was suddenly thrown into the spotlight at a young age, and how she dealt with and overcame politicians and advisors to transform herself from a political pawn into the strong and uncompromising queen she was, capable of helming an empire and seeing in the ear's great political and social changes.

Julian Fellowes, the screenwriter behind 'Young Victoria', says he was initially inspired by Victoria's ability to overcome

"Victoria's upbringing should have smashed the life out of her, she should have come to the throne with no confidence and no self worth, nothing - like Queen Anne, gibbering with nerves and taken over and pushed around by everyone," Julian said.

"Yet she didn't, and for some reason or other she stayed strong and simply refused to be beaten. She made some mistakes at the beginning but nobody died, and she learned from them and became a very successful queen, who was very self motivated. Apart from Albert, nobody was helping her. I love that, her spirit," he added.

Aside from the political strife, the centre of the film is the love story of Victoria and Prince Albert - one of the legendary and most devoted loves in royal history. The teenage queen was initially taken under the wing of Prime Minister Lord Melbourne, whom she relied on heavily for political advice. As she fell in love with Albert - her first cousin - however, he became a much greater influence and on her. After Lord Melbourne died, Albert and Victoria began to create their vision of England together. Although their union wasn't popular in official circles, Victoria remained defiant of Albert's critics.

Emily says she hopes the sympathetic light the couple's romance is depicted in and the positive view of the royals will make the film a hit with Britain's present royals.

"I hope they see this as a film that doesn't demonise the royal family because I think a lot of people have done that and scrutinised them," says Emily. "I think this is a more intimate portrait of Victoria which hopefully they will like.

"I think people see the royal family as other worldly and things and I hope this film can help to redress than to an extent, to show them real people, who can be sympathised with."

'Young Victoria' has its seeds in royalty too - the project was initiated by Sarah Ferguson, a lifelong admirer of Queen Victoria. Sarah was married into the British royal family to Prince Andrew, the present fourth in line for the throne, from 1986 until 1996.

For the duchess, the film contains something of a personal element.

"It's not about Queen Victoria as a figure so much, it's about when you marry into the family, you understand the history of this country and the traditional values that the monarchy stands for." Says the duchess, "And I'm very proud to have been part of it."

"Britain is and a great country so I think British people should honour our nation. I certainly hope it makes people feel proud when they see it."

She added the project has been a number of years in the making, including much haranguing by her of Hollywood producer Graham King.

She adds: "I started 15 years ago and the last five years I kept going to Graham King and saying, 'Please can you make the movie.' Eventually he said, 'Alright , I'll make the movie.'

"I really believed in it, you know. When I married I wrote two history books about Queen Victoria, and I really believe in what she stood for."

Filming on the period drama took place at a number of country houses and castles across England, with fabulous scenic results from Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallee - who gives the magnificence the British countryside and heritage much justice.

The film includes all the standard tickboxes of any modern period drama - corsets, lovelorn young women, finely turned out, restrained gentlemen, horse riding, ballroom dancing and melodrama in spades. Initial reviews suggest the film is more than the sum of its parts, however, with Emily and Rupert receiving much praise for the way they absorb their regal roles.

Both relative newcomers at this highest level of the film industry, Rupert and Emily could both find themselves permanent Hollywood fixtures as a result of 'The Young Victoria' - although Emily says she's still adjusting to the newfound attention.

"It's weird to see us all over the side of buses, very strange for me. But this feels like the most rewarding film I've ever been a part of and I'm just glad that people will get to see it now. I hope it's worthy of all that attention."

If the film does become a hit though, there's plenty of scope for sequels, as 'Young Victoria' only deals with the beginning of the monarch's 63-year reign - which was the longest of any British monarch to date. Though Emily says she's keen to leaving Victoria's older, ailing days to Dame Judi Dench (who win critical acclaim for her portrayal of an older version of the queen in 'Mrs Brown'), she's receptive to the idea of reprising her role.

Emily said: "I think there's a middle period film that could be made, one where Albert's influence, when he and Vitoria create their vision, and his influence on architecture and the city and lifestyle at the time, because he was so instrumental in creating Victoria England."

The Young Victoria is released this Friday (06.02.09).

By Andy Tillett.

The enduring image of Queen Victoria is one of a plump, stern faced old lady, always dressed in black and never smiling - a hardened woman. This is hardly the way to remember a woman who was, arguably, the greatest British monarch of the last 500 years.

New film 'The Young Victoria' seeks to smash this preconception and give a more deserving picture of a monarch who always put her country first and lead her country through Europe's 'Belle Epoque' - one of its most prosperous periods in history.

The film concentrates on the early tribulations and blossoming love of a younger Victoria, the delicate niece of King William IV, who ascended to the throne in 1837 aged 18.

As Rupert Friend, who plays Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, in the film, said: "I think the impression we have of Queen Victoria is this lady in black with a handkerchief on her head, mourning, whereas this film shows the young girl she was.

"It portrays a young girl who loved dancing and wanted to fall in love and was very passionate and committed."

Taking the lead alongside Rupert is Golden Globe winning actress Emily Blunt - most famous for her role in 'The Devil Wears Prada' - performing her first lead as the young queen. They are joined by Jim Broadbent, playing Victoria's uncle King William IV and Miranda Richardson, who is the Duchess of Kent, Victoria's mother. Other big names behind the picture include Martin Scorsese, who co-produced alongside Graham King and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York.

Emily said she was so captivated by the team behind the film and the script, she was prepared to go to any lengths to get the part.

She said: "It's rare that I make a plea for a part and I did really want this one. It's probably the only part I've ever really gone down on my hand and knees for."

'The Young Victoria' depicts the dawning and establishment of the queen's persona, how she was suddenly thrown into the spotlight at a young age, and how she dealt with and overcame politicians and advisors to transform herself from a political pawn into the strong and uncompromising queen she was, capable of helming an empire and seeing in the ear's great political and social changes.

Julian Fellowes, the screenwriter behind 'Young Victoria', says he was initially inspired by Victoria's ability to overcome

"Victoria's upbringing should have smashed the life out of her, she should have come to the throne with no confidence and no self worth, nothing - like Queen Anne, gibbering with nerves and taken over and pushed around by everyone," Julian said.

"Yet she didn't, and for some reason or other she stayed strong and simply refused to be beaten. She made some mistakes at the beginning but nobody died, and she learned from them and became a very successful queen, who was very self motivated. Apart from Albert, nobody was helping her. I love that, her spirit," he added.

Aside from the political strife, the centre of the film is the love story of Victoria and Prince Albert - one of the legendary and most devoted loves in royal history. The teenage queen was initially taken under the wing of Prime Minister Lord Melbourne, whom she relied on heavily for political advice. As she fell in love with Albert - her first cousin - however, he became a much greater influence and on her. After Lord Melbourne died, Albert and Victoria began to create their vision of England together. Although their union wasn't popular in official circles, Victoria remained defiant of Albert's critics.

Emily says she hopes the sympathetic light the couple's romance is depicted in and the positive view of the royals will make the film a hit with Britain's present royals.

"I hope they see this as a film that doesn't demonise the royal family because I think a lot of people have done that and scrutinised them," says Emily. "I think this is a more intimate portrait of Victoria which hopefully they will like.

"I think people see the royal family as other worldly and things and I hope this film can help to redress than to an extent, to show them real people, who can be sympathised with."

'Young Victoria' has its seeds in royalty too - the project was initiated by Sarah Ferguson, a lifelong admirer of Queen Victoria. Sarah was married into the British royal family to Prince Andrew, the present fourth in line for the throne, from 1986 until 1996.

More on Page 2