Elizabeth portrayed in films
Elizabeth I
Ethereal makeup/beautycallers.wordpress.com Directed by Shekhar Kapur. With Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, viewed 19/10/2015 digital image
Cate Blanchett biography, www.people.com, Queen Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) 'Elizabeth' 1998. Costume designed by Alexandra Byrne, viewed 19/10/2015 digital image
Here we see the transformation of Elizabeth portrayed in 'Elizabeth I' by Cate Blanchett. She was able to portray the image of Elizabeth as if we would have expected her, her hair, makeup and fashion related to the portraits of the Tudors very well and I think out of the films portraying Elizabeth, this has the most relation to what is said in history regarding Elizabeth, her style, makeup and choice of colours in fashion.
Fire over England 1937
Flora Robsonmadhulikaliddle.com The sea hawk 1940 posted on August 27 2010 by Dustedoff, digital image, viewed 19.10.15
The portrayal of Elizabeth in this film is said to be one of the best, she plays the role very well, has the look, is charming and witty but also shows her softer side that we see at the beginning of other films about Elizabeth, before she was Queen.
Betty Davis as Elizabeth
period make-ups sixteenth century, www.themakeupgallery.info, digital image, viewed 19/10/15, Perc Westmore was the makeup artist.
Bette Davis was considered a beauty icon, when she agreed to do this movie it was a shock to some people; she cut her hair and eye brows and shaved away at her hair line to perceive the same hair style of Elizabeth. She played this role again 25 years later. Although it was a shock for her to play this role and would never happen in modern times to an actress considered the icon of beauty, the image of her, I think was displayed poorly, she didn't have the right look of Elizabeth, and I think it has been portrayed better in other films.
Glenda Jackson 1970's
www.elizabeth.org, www.themakeupgallery.info/periodmakeups/sixteenthcentury, viewed 19.10.15, digital image.
In this picture we see Elizabeth portrayed as a much older version, her hair is frizzy and thin, further away from her face decorated with many pearls. In this version, there is the use of prosthetic, they have made her skin look rough and diseased. With the use of makeup they have portrayed Elizabeth well, I believe this is better representation of what Elizabeth would have looked like as an older woman with the makeup that killed her skin and her bad skin disease in the first place. Although it looks a little amateur it was done well in my opinion for the 70's.
Helen Mirren
raymarstonwigs.com, London, Ray Marston wig studio, London, Ray Marston Wig Studio, viewed 19.10.15, digital image
Here we see Helen Mirren portrayed as Elizabeth, she looks good as this role, pale and natural. Her hair is a darker colour than in some other films but curly and away or her face. The ruff is very big and gives a good representation of what Elizabeth looked like and wore. She also has many pearls around her neck like in the portraits. The hair and makeup was by Fae Hammond, Su Westwood, Gemma Richards and Jan Hope Kavanagh.
Anne Marie Duff
Virgin Queen, sophieisgod.dreamwidth.orgphotobucket.com, digital image, viewed 19.10.15, sophieisgod | The Virgin Queen: Part The Second, posted September 23 2007, 23.51
Another interpretation of Elizabeth, her hair is darker than portrayed in other films, her skin very pale and looking a bit like paste. Again she has a huge ruff around her neck and wears colours to initiate her power and wealth. Although not my favourite interpretation she was portrayed well i this with the big hair and fashion.
Judi Dench
Judi Dench wants to see Richard III buried in York - Telegraph, Judi Dench in Shakespeare in love, Queen Elizabeth I, posted 7.29am, September 09, 2013, www.telegraph.co.uk, photo taken by Corbett and Keane, viewed 19.10.2015, (digital image)
Judi Dench portrayed the Queen in this film as a fierce, strong and powerful woman; she was strict and hard on her people. Although only in the film for short while, she had to go through the same makeup and hair practices of other actors who have portrayed Elizabeth through the years. She removed the hair from the the front of her face and was fitted for very extravagant wigs. Her face, although not white or painted with red cheeks and lips, was natural and stern, with only a faint pink complexion.
I admire the dress she is wearing and the jewels that company it, she has taken the look from portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and is wearing many pearls decorated throughout her hair, other jewellery and her ruff. Her fun in this film has kept with the traditional fan shape and his her face nicely, although the thin shape of it, decorated with more jewels and pearls and the spiky look to it has a more contemporary style. I think this type of ruff goes well with the personalty she portrayed in the film, almost cruel, like an evil Queen, stern, powerful and spoiled.
