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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed shows.
Elizabeth I
EMAILPRINTMINISERIES: HBO, begins Saturday 4/22 at 8:00p
Universal acclaim
Based on 21 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 15 votes
Read user comments
Rate this show >
Show Info
Genre(s): Biography, Drama
First Air Date: April 22, 2006
Summary
Starring Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, Hugh Dancy, Ian McDiarmid, Patrick Malahide, and Barbara Flynn
Helen Mirren gives a sure-to-be-Emmy-nominated performance as the unmarried English ruler in this co-production of HBO and England's Channel 4 that is set during the later years of Elizabeth's reign.
Also On The Web: Official Show Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Detroit Free PressMike Duffy
The lavishly beguiling historical drama is pumped up on passion, wit and the majestic fire of Helen Mirren's thrilling performance as one of history's most intriguing rulers.
Read Full Review >New York PostLinda Stasi
"Elizabeth I" soars on every level from the writing, to the directing to the acting.
Read Full Review >People WeeklyTom Gliatto
An explosion of fireworks. [1 May 2006, p.39]
Entertainment WeeklyAlynda Wheat
Mirren's Elzabeth is emotional... But with that comes soemthing as rare on TV as it is rewarding--a love affair involving people over the age of 50. [21 Apr 2006, p.67]
Baltimore SunDavid Zurawik
Elizabeth I features two of the finest actors [Mirren and Irons] in film and television inspiring each other to some of the most spectacular work they have ever done.
Read Full Review >New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley
Elizabeth is mercurial, powerful, unpredictable - qualities made real, and a bit frightening, because of the intensity with which Mirren commits to the role.
Read Full Review >USA TodayRobert Bianco
As Elizabeth movies go, this version has neither the sweep of Glenda Jackson's Elizabeth R nor the easily digested entertainment value of Bette Davis' Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex. But it has Mirren, and that's reason enough to make it and watch it.
Read Full Review >Washington PostTom Shales
No matter how opulent this production, Mirren is never upstaged, and she is the best reason to keep watching.
Read Full Review >Arizona RepublicBill Goodykoontz
Elizabeth [is] portrayed by Mirren in as brilliant a performance as you're likely to see.
Read Full Review >Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan
Mirren, a true virtuoso at the height of her powers, is what makes this excellent two-part film worth watching, but there are many other pluses as well.
Read Full Review >Wall Street JournalAmy Finnerty
Impressive... Ms. Mirren leaves her authoritative stamp on the role of Elizabeth.
Read Full Review >VarietyBrian Lowry
Somewhat plodding through its opening hour, "Elizabeth I" gains steam and then soars through its concluding installment.
Read Full Review >Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen
An engrossing, humanizing portrait of the British monarch.
Read Full Review >San Jose Mercury NewsCharlie McCollum
It is a great performance [by Mirren], strong enough that it overcomes the flaws of "Elizabeth I."
Read Full Review >New York MagazineJohn Leonard
[Mirren] delivers big-time... Congratulations should also go to Nigel Williams, whose screenplay for Elizabeth I is as sassy as Tom Stoppard’s was for Shakespeare in Love.
Read Full Review >The New York TimesAlessandra Stanley
"Elizabeth I" was made for television and is not a lavish, big-budget production. Visually, it is no match for the 1998 movie. But what "Elizabeth I" does offer is not insignificant: a richly drawn portrait of a powerful woman who is both ruthless and sentimental, formidable and mercurial, vain and likable.
Read Full Review >Chicago Sun-TimesDoug Elfman
Irons and the rest of the cast are spot-on. The writing and directing are fairly crisp. Perhaps, though, tracing Elizabeth's life for 20-plus years subtracted from my becoming intently involved in each period of this biopic.
Read Full Review >Philadelphia InquirerJonathan Storm
[It] would be an above-average Masterpiece [Theatre] installment.
Read Full Review >Los Angeles TimesRobert Lloyd
The film as a whole is a strange case of mostly excellent parts that make an overlong and tedious whole.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this show is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
kelsey w gave it a2:
Take away the costumes, set and cinematography, and you have an overacted and overwrought movie of the week. The writing is actually embarrassingly bad at times, and it's obvious that Hooper couldn't control his actors' performances. A dressed-up sappy love story, masquerading as History - with a capital H.
Randy M gave it a10:
Elizabeth I is an awe-inspiring, terrifying, work of brilliant art. Definitely one of the best shows you'll see on television this year. The acting is absolutely astounding (kudos to Helen Mirren) and the show keeps you mesmerized until the very end. Amazing.
K8rpot8r Faith gave it a10:
I thought this movie imptomized what Elizabeth the I was all about....Oh and about the Music aspect...I am going to school for music and the music was exactly what you would have heard back then! I just wish I could have been a fly on the wall for this movie in the making!!
chris z gave it a10:
superb!
Peter P gave it a10:
At last a reasonably factual and non-Hollywood version of this great story. A magnificent production and definitely worthy of several Golden Globe Awards.
slobodan gave it a10:
absolutely excellent, mirren is fantastic
Kathryn H gave it a3:
Mirren is fab, but the writing is not up to HBO standards, and the music is bizarre, alternately incongruous and sappy. A bit disappointing that the focus was on Liz I, hottie, as opposed to Elizabeth Regina, world ruler.
