Mary Queen of Scots (2018 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Josie Rourke (director), Beau Willimon (screenwriter) |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom / United States |
| Products | Historical drama film |
Mary Queen of Scots is a 2018 historical drama film marking the directorial debut of Josie Rourke, with a script by Beau Willimon adapted from John Guy's 2004 biography Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. The movie features Saoirse Ronan portraying Mary, Queen of Scots, alongside Margot Robbie as her cousin, the English sovereign Queen Elizabeth I. The cast also includes Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, David Tennant, and Guy Pearce in key supporting parts.
The film had its premiere as the closing feature at AFI Fest on 15 November 2018, followed by a United States release on 7 December 2018 and a UK release on 18 January 2019. Critical reception was mixed; while performances—particularly Robbie's—and costume design received acclaim, the screenplay and historical accuracy faced criticism. It garnered three nominations at the 72nd British Academy Film Awards and two nominations at the 91st Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Robbie earned nods for a SAG Award and a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress.
Plot
In 1561, nineteen-year-old Mary Stuart returns to Scotland from France to claim her throne following the death of her husband, King Francis II. Upon arrival, she is greeted by her illegitimate half-brother, James Stewart, Earl of Moray.
Meanwhile, in neighboring England, Elizabeth Tudor—the Protestant queen and Mary's cousin—perceives Mary's claim to the English crown as a significant threat. Mary dismisses John Knox, a Protestant reformer who regards her Catholic rule as hazardous to Scotland's religious transformation.
To undermine Mary's legitimacy, Elizabeth suggests a marriage alliance between Mary and an English nobleman. She proposes Lord Robert Dudley, her childhood companion, although both Mary and Dudley are hesitant. Following Elizabeth’s contraction of smallpox, Mary consents to the union on the condition she be named heir apparent.
Elizabeth subsequently dispatches Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, to Scotland under the pretense of seeking religious refuge. Mary develops affection for Darnley and accepts his marriage proposal. Their union sparks a constitutional crisis: Elizabeth worries that Darnley's Stuart heritage bolsters Mary's claim; meanwhile, Mary's advisors suspect English meddling.
Both realms demand Darnley's return to England; Mary refuses, inciting Moray’s rebellion. After marrying Darnley, Mary discovers his affair with her secretary David Rizzio. She suppresses the uprising but spares both Rizzio and Moray, insisting Darnley produce an heir.
Their son James is born, whom Mary declares "an heir to Scotland and England," provoking England’s displeasure. Moray and Darnley's father conspire against Mary, circulating rumors that James is Rizzio’s offspring. Knox publicly condemns Mary as adulterous. Under pressure from scandal and doubts about his bisexuality, Darnley murders Rizzio.
Mary uncovers the conspiracy and deceives Darnley into fleeing but subsequently detains him. She offers clemency to conspirators who provide evidence against Darnley. Forgiving Moray, she requests Elizabeth serve as godmother to James; both queens recognize James as heir despite opposition.
Mary exiles but refuses to divorce Darnley. Her protector James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell, orchestrates Darnley's assassination. Following this event, Mary escapes with her son. Bothwell urges immediate remarriage to a fellow Scot—himself. Despite suspicion and resistance from others, Mary agrees after Bothwell threatens and assaults her.
Knox denounces Mary as a "harlot" responsible for her husband's death; Moray demands her abdication. Complying, Mary abdicates and flees to England.
Elizabeth arranges a clandestine meeting where Mary seeks assistance to regain her throne. Elizabeth declines military involvement but promises safe exile if Mary refrains from supporting enemies. Mary warns that killing her would equate to fratricide.
Placed under house arrest, Mary becomes implicated in a plot to assassinate Elizabeth and is ultimately executed by Elizabeth’s reluctant order. Facing execution clad in bright red symbolizing martyrdom, Mary expresses hope for her son's peaceful future reign.
An epilogue notes Elizabeth never married nor named an heir during nearly 45 years on the throne; upon her death, James ascends as the first monarch ruling both Scotland and England under the Union of the Crowns.
Cast
- Saoirse Ronan portrays Mary, Queen of Scots, the Scottish monarch and Elizabeth's first cousin once removed.
- Margot Robbie takes on the role of Elizabeth I, Queen of England and Mary’s first cousin once removed.
- Jack Lowden appears as Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, Mary’s second spouse.
- Joe Alwyn plays Lord Robert Dudley, Elizabeth’s advisor and romantic partner.
- David Tennant embodies John Knox, the founder of the Church of Scotland.
- Guy Pearce acts as William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Elizabeth’s chief counselor.
- Gemma Chan is cast as Bess of Hardwick, a trusted ally of Elizabeth and caretaker for Mary.
- Martin Compston portrays James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, Mary’s third husband.
- Ismael Cruz Córdova plays the role of David Rizzio, a close confidant of Mary.
- Brendan Coyle appears as Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, father to Lord Darnley.
- Ian Hart takes on the role of William Maitland of Lethington, Secretary of State for Scotland.
- Adrian Lester acts as Lord Thomas Randolph, Elizabeth’s ambassador to Scotland.
- James McArdle portrays James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, Regent of Scotland and Mary’s illegitimate half-brother.
In addition, Eileen O’Higgins, Maria-Victoria Dragus, Izuka Hoyle, and Liah O'Prey appear as the "Four Marys"—Mary Beaton, Mary Fleming, Mary Seton, and Mary Livingston—serving as Mary’s personal attendants. The film is dedicated to Alex Beckett (Sir Walter Mildmay), who passed away prior to its release.
Director Josie Rourke implemented a colour-blind casting approach by portraying Lord Thomas Randolph as a Black man and casting Gemma Chan as Bess of Hardwick, despite both being historically white figures. Rourke commented to the L.A. Times: "I was very clear that I would not direct an all-white period drama."
Production
Originally conceived as a project starring Scarlett Johansson with a budget between $25–30 million, filming was slated to begin in mid-2007. However, after Johansson left the production, progress halted until 9 August 2012 when Saoirse Ronan was cast in the role of Mary Stuart. It took an additional five years before Margot Robbie was announced on 21 April 2017 to portray Queen Elizabeth I, with principal photography scheduled for August 2017. The screenplay, adapted by Beau Willimon, was based on historian John Guy’s biography My Heart Is My Own: The Life of Mary Queen of Scots. The film was produced by Working Title’s Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Debra Hayward alongside James Biggam from HBI Production. Direction was helmed by Josie Rourke.
Casting continued through June and August 2017 with notable additions including Jack Lowden as Lord Darnley, Joe Alwyn portraying Robert Dudley, Martin Compston as James Hepburn, and German-Romanian actress Maria-Victoria Dragus making her English-language debut as Mary Fleming. Subsequent cast members included Brendan Coyle, David Tennant, Guy Pearce, Gemma Chan, and Ismael Cruz Córdova taking on the role of David Rizzio.
Domestic distribution was managed by Focus Features, while international rights were handled by Universal Pictures. The production team included Academy Award-winning costume designer Alexandra Byrne; hair and makeup designer Jenny Shircore; editor Chris Dickens; Emmy-winning production designer James Merifield; and BAFTA-winning cinematographer John Mathieson.
Filming commenced on 17 August 2017 at multiple locations throughout the United Kingdom, including sites in Scotland.
Release
The film had its debut during the closing gala of AFI Fest on 15 November 2018 in Los Angeles. It subsequently premiered in the United States on 7 December 2018, followed by its release in the United Kingdom on 18 January 2019.
Historicity
The movie has faced criticism from historians due to several factual inaccuracies. It is understood that Mary and Elizabeth communicated solely through correspondence and never met face-to-face. Additionally, Mary probably did not speak with a Scottish accent, as she was brought up at the French Court starting from age five.
Estelle Paranque, an expert on Queen Elizabeth I, told The Daily Telegraph that the film’s depiction of a friendship between the two queens is inaccurate—Elizabeth initially extended kindness, but Mary regarded her as a rival from the outset.
Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, shown as one of Elizabeth’s residences, was in fact constructed by Bess of Hardwick, who, alongside her husband, confined Mary under house arrest for much of her stay in England.
Soundtrack
Composer Max Richter crafted a contemporary score that integrates elements from 16th-century music. He employed instruments with "female voices," such as the cor anglais, to symbolize Mary, while drums and percussion emphasized male figures and battle sequences. The soundtrack was recorded at Air Studios in London with a 110-piece orchestra and a 12-member female choir from London Voices. It was released by Deutsche Grammophon on 7 December 2018.
Box office
Mary Queen of Scots grossed $16.5 million across the United States and Canada, with an additional $29.9 million earned internationally, culminating in a global total of $46.4 million.
Critical response
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating based on numerous reviews, with an average score reflecting mixed sentiments. The consensus notes that Mary Queen of Scots offers uneven political intrigue set in a historical period while highlighting the strong performances of its lead actors. Meanwhile, on Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 60 out of 100 from 47 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews." Audience feedback gathered by PostTrak rated it 2.5 out of 5 stars, with only 38% recommending the movie.
Critics pointed out flaws concerning historical accuracy, narrative structure, and intimate scenes. Emily Yoshida from New York magazine described it as "neither a strict history lesson nor an especially compelling drama." Shane Watson of The Telegraph referred to it as "history porn for the Instagram generation," while A.O. Scott of The New York Times emphasized its unconventional interpretation of historical events.
Accolades
See also
- Mary of Scotland (1936), featuring performances by Katharine Hepburn and Fredric March
- Mary, Queen of Scots (1971), with Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson in leading roles
- Mary Queen of Scots (2013), starring Camille Rutherford alongside Sean Biggerstaff
External links
- 2018 directorial debut films
- 2018 biographical drama films
- 2010s historical drama films
- American biographical drama films
- American historical drama films
- British biographical drama films
- British historical drama films
- Films about Elizabeth I
- Films about Mary, Queen of Scots
- Films based on biographies
- Films produced by Eric Fellner
- Films produced by Tim Bevan
- Films scored by Max Richter
- Films set in the 1560s
- Films shot in Edinburgh
- Films shot in Gloucestershire
- Films with screenplays by Beau Willimon
- Focus Features films
- Universal Pictures films
- Working Title Films films
- Biographical films about British royalty
- 2010s English-language films
- 2010s American films
- 2010s British films
- English-language historical drama films
- English-language biographical drama films