Cultural depictions of Mary I of England
Encyclopedia
Literature
- Marie Tudor (1833) by Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
. - The Tower of LondonThe Tower of London (novel)The Tower of London is a novel by William Harrison Ainsworth serially published in 1840. It is a historical romance that describes the history of Lady Jane Grey from her short-lived time as Queen of England to her execution.-Background:...
(1840) by William Harrison AinsworthWilliam Harrison AinsworthWilliam Harrison Ainsworth was an English historical novelist born in Manchester. He trained as a lawyer, but the legal profession held no attraction for him. While completing his legal studies in London he met the publisher John Ebers, at that time manager of the King's Theatre, Haymarket...
. - Queen Mary (1875) by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. A theatrical play.
- The Prince and the PauperThe Prince and the PauperThe Prince and the Pauper is an English-language novel by American author Mark Twain. It was first published in 1881 in Canada before its 1882 publication in the United States. The book represents Twain's first attempt at historical fiction...
(1881) by Mark TwainMark TwainSamuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
. The novel includes a depiction of Mary before her accession: "When his royal 'sister,' the grimly holy Lady Mary, set herself to reason with him against the wisdom of his course in pardoning so many people who would otherwise be jailed, or hanged, or burned (...) the boy [pauper pretending to be King Edward VI] was filled with generous indignation, and commanded her to go to her closet, and beseech God to take away the stone that was in her breast, and give her a human heart." The short appearance had a considerable influence on her negative image, given the enduring popularity of Twain's work. His depiction of her as a cold and cruel person seems to be connected both to Twain's outspoken atheism and to the strong anti-Catholic prejudice prevalent in American society at the time of writing. - Young Bess (1944), Elizabeth, Captive Princess (1948), and Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain (1953) by Margaret IrwinMargaret IrwinMargaret Emma Faith Irwin was an English author of several important historical novels, as well as a factual biography of Sir Walter Raleigh.- Biography :...
. A trilogy focusing on the early years of Elizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
and her relationship with Mary and Philip II of SpainPhilip II of SpainPhilip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. - Daughter of Henry VIII (1971) by Rosemary Churchill. Features Mary's struggles against her father Henry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII of EnglandHenry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. - The Ringed Castle (1971) by Dorothy DunnettDorothy DunnettDorothy Dunnett OBE was a Scottish historical novelist. She is best known for her six-part series about Francis Crawford of Lymond, The Lymond Chronicles, which she followed with the eight-part prequel The House of Niccolò...
. Part of the Lymond ChroniclesLymond ChroniclesThe Lymond Chronicles is a series of six novels, written by Dorothy Dunnett, which were first published between 1961 and 1975. The series is set in mid-sixteenth century Europe and the Mediterranean and tells the story of a young Scottish nobleman, Francis Crawford of Lymond, from 1547 through...
. The novel includes a sympathetic portrayal of Mary's marriage and pregnancies. - I Am Mary Tudor (1971), Mary the Queen (1973), and Bloody Mary (1974) by Hilda LewisHilda LewisHilda Winifred Lewis was a British writer.She wrote a noted children's book, The Ship that Flew which concerns Norse mythology and time travel. It was republished in the Oxford Children's Modern Classics series in 1998. Several of her historical novels, e.g. I am Mary Tudor , received attention...
. A trilogy focusing on Mary's life from the cradle to the grave. The books include a "psychological exploration of Mary's character", a sympathetic character who grows "increasingly paranoid and deluded" in her later years. - Queen's Lady (1981) by Patricia Parkes.
- In the Shadow of the Crown (1988) by Eleanor HibbertEleanor HibbertEleanor Hibbert was a British author who wrote under various pen names. Her best-known pseudonyms were Jean Plaidy, Victoria Holt, and Philippa Carr; she also wrote under the names Eleanor Burford, Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow, Anne Percival, and Ellalice Tate...
. A historical novel focusing on the Tudor Queens. - In the Garden of IdenIn The Garden of IdenIn the Garden of Iden is a 1997 science fiction novel by Kage Baker. Although it is set entirely in the 16th century, in Spain and England, it is a science fiction story revolving around the activities of a group of immortal cyborgs, individuals who appear human but have been transformed by high...
(1997) by Kage BakerKage BakerKage Baker was an American science fiction and fantasy writer.- Biography :Baker was born in Hollywood, California and lived there and in Pismo Beach most of her life. Before becoming a professional writer she spent many years in theater, including teaching Elizabethan English as a second language...
. A science fiction novel, involving time travelTime travelTime travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
. - In The Time Of The Poisoned Queen (1998) by Paul C. Doherty. Mary I dies of poisoning, immortal Nicholas Segalla investigates a historical mystery with many suspects.
- Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor (1999) by Kathryn LaskyKathryn LaskyKathryn Lasky is an American author whose work includes several Dear America books, The Royal Diaries books, Sugaring Time, The Night Journey, and the Guardians of Ga'Hoole series.-Biography:...
. The novel is part of the juvenile historical-fiction series The Royal DiariesThe Royal DiariesThe Royal Diaries is a series of twenty books published by Scholastic Press from 1999 to 2005. In each of the books, a fictional diary of a real female figure of royalty as a child throughout world history was written by the author. The Royal Diaries was a spin-off of Scholastic's popular Dear...
. Mary is a prominent character and is portrayed as a bitter rival to her half-sister Elizabeth. - Mary, Bloody Mary (1999) and Beware, Princess Elizabeth (2001) by Carolyn MeyerCarolyn MeyerCarolyn Meyer is an author of novels for children and young adults.The typical genre for her work is historical fiction, one of her more popular projects being the Young Royals series, each novel of which tells the story of a different female royal person...
. Both novels are part of the Young RoyalsYoung RoyalsYoung Royals is a series of novels for children by Carolyn Meyer based on the lives of English and French royalty. Books in the series include Mary, Bloody Mary , Beware, Princess Elizabeth , Doomed Queen Anne and Patience, Princess Catherine , about the Tudors, as well as Duchessina , the story...
series. The first depicts Mary's teenaged years, the second Elizabeth's teenaged years. Both attempt to explore their experiences at the time and how said experiences shaped their later lives. - Kissed by Shadows (2003) by Jane FeatherJane FeatherJane Feather is a popular British-American writer of historical romance novels. In 1984 she wrote five contemporary romances under the pseudonym Claudia Bishop...
. Conclusion of the Kiss Trilogy, a "complex historical drama" series set in the 16th century. - The Queen's FoolThe Queen's FoolThe Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory is a 2004 historical fiction novel. Set between 1548 and 1558, it is part of Philippa Gregory's Tudor series. The series includes The Boleyn Inheritance...
(2004) by Philippa GregoryPhilippa GregoryPhilippa Gregory is an English novelist.-Early life and academic career:Philippa Gregory was born in Kenya. When she was two years old, her family moved to England. She was a "rebel" at school, but managed to attend the University of Sussex...
. The novel depicts Mary's rise to power and reign in a very sympathetic light, and makes an effort to revise her long-lasting horrific image. It shows her through the eyes of a devoted and loving servant - without hiding the horror of the persecutions. - Innocent TraitorInnocent TraitorInnocent Traitor is a historical novel by Alison Weir, published in 2007. It is the story of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for 9 days in 1553.-Summary:...
(2007) and The Lady Elizabeth (2008) by Alison WeirAlison WeirAlison Weir is a British writer of history books, and latterly historical novels, mostly in the form of biographies about British royalty.-Personal life:...
. Two novels covering the adversarial relationship of Mary with Lady Jane GreyLady Jane GreyLady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
and Elizabeth I. - The Queen's Sorrow (2008) by Suzannah DunnSuzannah DunnSuzannah Dunn is an author and graduate of the MA creative writing programme at the University of East Anglia. She teaches MA creative writing at the University of Manchester, and is the author of ten novels...
. The novel attempts to show the other side to Mary, as seen through the eyes of Rafael, a member of the entourage of Philip II of SpainPhilip II of SpainPhilip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. - Dracula and the Bloody Mary: A Tragicomedy (early 21st century) by Santiago Sevilla. A theatrical play, published in Liceus El Portal de las Humanidades. (Liceus.com). Features Count DraculaCount DraculaCount Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula and archetypal vampire. Some aspects of his character have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian general and Wallachian Prince Vlad III the Impaler...
in the courts of Edward VI of EnglandEdward VI of EnglandEdward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
and Mary I.
Film and television
Mary has been played on screen by:- Jeanne DelvairJeanne DelvairJeanne Delvair was a French stage and film actress of the early 20th century.Delvair was born Jeanne Louise Deluermoz in Paris, France. She started acting in stage productions at an early age, and transitioned into film acting with her role portraying "Marie Stuart" in the 1908 film Marie Stuart....
in Marie Tudor (1917). Film adaptation of a Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
story. - Gwen Ffrangcon Davies in Tudor RoseTudor Rose (film)Tudor Rose is a 1936 British film starring Cedric Hardwicke and Nova Pilbeam and directed by Robert Stevenson....
(1936), about Lady Jane Grey - Yvette Pienne in Pearls of the CrownPearls of the CrownThe Pearls of the Crown is a 1937 partially historical film by Sacha Guitry who plays four roles in it. Guitry's Jean Martin is investigate the history of seven pearls, four of which end up on the crown of England, the other three end up missing.-Cast:...
(1937). - Ann TyrrellAnn TyrrellAnn Tyrrell was an American actress who co-starred in both of the Ann Sothern CBS sitcoms Private Secretary and The Ann Sothern Show .-Career:...
(uncredited) in Young BessYoung BessYoung Bess is a 1953 biographical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer about the early life of Elizabeth I, from her turbulent childhood to the eve of her accession to the throne of England...
(1953) - Sheila AllenSheila Allen (English actress)Sheila Allen was an English actress, who was best known to the wider public for her role on television as Cassie Manson in Bouquet Of Barbed Wire and its sequel Another Bouquet...
in The Prince and the Pauper (1962), a three-episode television adaptation of the Mark TwainMark TwainSamuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
story. Broadcast as part of Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. - Françoise Christophe in Marie Tudor (1966). Kathy Fraise also depicts Mary in her childhood. Film adaptation of a Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
story. - Nicola PagettNicola PagettNicola Pagett is an English actress. She is best-known for her role as Elizabeth Bellamy in the 1970s TV drama series Upstairs, Downstairs.-Early life:She was educated at St...
in Anne of the Thousand DaysAnne of the Thousand DaysAnne of the Thousand Days is a 1969 costume drama made by Hal Wallis Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. It was directed by Charles Jarrott and produced by Hal B. Wallis. The film tells the story of Anne Boleyn...
(1969), in which she made a brief appearance in a scene showing Catherine of Aragon's death; in reality, Mary was not present at this event as she was living far away attending her half sister Princess ElizabethElizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty... - Verina Greenlaw as a girl in the first episode ("Catherine of Aragon") of the BBC TV series The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1971)
- Alison Frazer as an older woman in the third episode ("Jane Seymour") and sixth episode ("Catherine Parr") of The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1971)
- Daphne SlaterDaphne SlaterDaphne Slater is an English actress noted for Shakespearian and period films and wife of John Harrison actor, film and television director and producer...
in the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV series Elizabeth RElizabeth RElizabeth R is a BBC television drama serial of six 85-minute plays starring Glenda Jackson in the title role. It was first broadcast on BBC2 from February to March 1971, through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Australia and broadcast in America on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre.- Episodes...
(1971) - Inge Keller in Die Liebe und die Königin (1977). Film adaptation of a Victor HugoVictor HugoVictor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
story. - Jane LapotaireJane LapotaireJane Lapotaire is a British actress.She studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the 1960s. Her role in the title role of Marie Curie first brought her to wide attention...
in Lady JaneLady Jane (film)Lady Jane is a 1986 British costume drama romance film directed by Trevor Nunn, written by David Edgar, and starring Helena Bonham Carter as the title character in her first major film role. It tells the story of Lady Jane Grey, the Nine Days' Queen, on her reign and romance with husband Lord...
(1986) - Mary MacDonald in Kings and Queens of England Volume I (1993)
- Kathy BurkeKathy BurkeKatherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress, comedienne, playwright and theatre director. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme...
in ElizabethElizabeth (film)Elizabeth is a 1998 biographical film written by Michael Hirst, directed by Shekhar Kapur, and starring Cate Blanchett in the title role of Queen Elizabeth I of England, alongside Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, Sir John Gielgud, Fanny Ardant and Richard Attenborough...
(1998) - Lara BelmontLara BelmontLara Belmont is a British actress, most famous for her role as Jessie in the 1999 film The War Zone. She also appeared in ITV's lavish costume drama Henry VIII as his eldest daughter Mary Tudor...
in the Granada TelevisionGranada TelevisionGranada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
serial Henry VIIIHenry VIII (TV serial)Henry VIII is a two-part British television serial produced principally by Granada Television for ITV. It chronicles the life of Henry VIII of England from the disintegration of his first marriage to an aging Spanish princess until his death following a stroke in 1547, by which time he had married...
(2003). The role was s small one and like in Anne of the Thousand DaysAnne of the Thousand DaysAnne of the Thousand Days is a 1969 costume drama made by Hal Wallis Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. It was directed by Charles Jarrott and produced by Hal B. Wallis. The film tells the story of Anne Boleyn...
had the character of Mary present at her mothers death bed - Joanne WhalleyJoanne Whalley-Early life:Whalley was born in Salford but brought up in Stockport where she studied at the Braeside School of Speech and Drama, Marple.Whalley first appeared as a child in How We Used To Live and bit parts in soap operas, especially Coronation Street and Emmerdale...
in the TV miniseries The Virgin QueenThe Virgin Queen (TV show)The Virgin Queen is a 2005 BBC and Power co-production, four-part miniseries based upon the life of Queen Elizabeth I, starring Anne-Marie Duff...
(2005) - Bláthnaid McKeown as a young girl in the first season of the TV series The TudorsThe TudorsThe Tudors is a Canadian produced historical fiction television series filmed in Ireland, created by Michael Hirst and produced for the American premium cable television channel Showtime...
(2007) and Sarah BolgerSarah BolgerSarah Lee Bolger is an Irish actress. She is known for her role as Princess / Lady Mary Tudor on The Tudors and for her role as Mallory Grace in The Spiderwick Chronicles.-Early life:...
in her teens and early twenties in the second, third and fourth seasons (2008–2010). This portrayal of Mary and her life drew positive reviews with Bolger garnering praise for her tremendous performance. - Constance Stride in The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
- Miranda French in The Twisted Tale Of Bloody Mary (2008), an independent film from TV Choice Productions
Audio
- Queen Mary appears in the Doctor WhoDoctor WhoDoctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
audio play "The Marian ConspiracyThe Marian ConspiracyThe Marian Conspiracy is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.-Plot:...
", set in 1554, played by Anah Ruddin. The story focuses on the religious tensions of her reign and involves an attempt to assassinate the queen by English Protestants and French Catholics.