Two historical figures of great wonder come together in the visually striking Mary Queen of Scots (2019), directed by Josie Rourke. The casting of Saoirse Ronan (Mary Stuart) and Margot Robbie (Queen Elizabeth I) was spot on and the costumes and scenery were breathtaking.
I would deem this film a career-defining moment for both actresses who shone bright and held their own against a backdrop of deceit, misery and despair. Ronan (Hanna, 2011) was a perfect choice for the role of Mary. She has the maturity of an actress many years her senior and this shows in her ability to convey conflicting emotions throughout the film e.g. as she readjusts to life following the murder of her best friend and second husband, sets off into the unknown after being forcibly separated from her infant son, and in her darkest hour, she faces her executioner Queen Elizabeth I.
Robbie’s (The Wolf of Wall Street, 2014) crowning moment for me was the scene where she comes face-to-face with Mary in what escalates into an emotionally charged discussion between two rulers who are both fearful for their futures. Robbie speaks every word with meaning and communicates to the audience a confliction with her thoughts and feelings for Mary that are all-consuming and slowly eating her up on the inside. In short, Robbie makes an excellent Elizabeth I and I’d love to see her in a historic role again in the future.
Even if you’re not the biggest fan of costume dramas, I would give this film a go as its construction is as big and bold as the characters it portrays and you can’t help feeling like you know these women a little more personally by the end. They are not merely ‘ghosts from the past’ but forces of nature with voices to be heard. Rating: **** (4 out of 5 stars)
Further reading:
Film Review – Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
Film Review: Saoirse Ronan in ‘Mary Queen of Scots’
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