Quote:
Originally Posted by innerSpaceman
Curious though. In the Cate Blanchette films, Elizabeth has two love affairs, and in the Helen Mirren miniseries, she has two different love affairs.
Were they all true?
|
First was Robert Dudley. The Earl of Leicester. Her favorite. He was played by Jeremy Irons and Joseph Finnes. He apparently was a lover of Elizabeth's although everyone concerned considered her to be a virgin for the record. He died of cancer. Stomach, I think. She was destroyed after he died.
Second was another Robert, Robert Devereaux. The 2nd Earl of Essex. The treasonous rogue. His father was Walter Devereaux. He was the first Earl of Essex. Therefore, I think the father/son thang in the Mirren version is incorrect. He was beheaded by Elizabeth and apparently she became devastated by her own decision (as with a number of them) to have him killed. There are speculations that he slept with her as well. He was played by the yummy Hugh Dancy in the Mirren version.
Edit to add: Dudley was Essex's stepfather. That makes more sense...
As for Walter Raleigh, it's not for certain whether he was a lover of Elizabeth's but he was a favorite as well. There is skepticism on whether he banged her or not.