The Tragic Story of Royal Cousin: Mary Queen of Scots

By: Raizza Dauz

Mary Queen of Scots, the spirited 16^th-century monarch played by Saoirse Ronan in the new biopic, Mary Queen of Scots, has been as much “a victim of the pen as the executioner’s ax,” according to British historian Dr. John Guy.

This 2018 historical drama film directed by Josie Rourke and written by Beau Willimon, based on John Guy’s biography Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart also stars Margot Robbie as her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, and chronicles the 1569 conflict between their two countries. Jack Lowden, Joe Alwyn, David Tennant, and Guy Pearce also star in supporting roles.

“Bow to no one” as the movie poster says it, the film received mixed reviews. Critics have praised for the performances (particularly Ronan and Robbie) and costumes, but were criticized for the screenplay and several historical inaccuracies.

The film received three nominations at the 72^nd British Academy Film Awards, and two nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling at the 91^st Academy Awards. For her performance, Robbie earned nominations for a SAG Award and BAFTA award for Best Supporting Actress, respectively.

Will this movie reveal the bloody truth?

This heartfelt, serious-minded film about the artful power politics of the rival 16^th-century queens presents their relationship as battle and love affair. Saoirse Ronan’s face looms out of the screen in this period movie like the figurehead on a warship’s prow: fierce, sharp, defiant. She inhabits the persona of Mary Stuart so utterly that people will take a moment to remember that it was this same performer who last year, stars in Lady Bird, a modern-day teen at war with her mother.

400 years after her brutal slaying at the hands of her royal English cousin, Mary Queen of Scots continues to mesmerize the captains and kings of Hollywood. In post-Reformation Scotland, Mary was reviled for her Catholic faith and for her sexual allure at a time when princesses were considered mere chattels and chess pieces to be paraded across the kingdoms of Europe to seal treaties and unite empires.

Set to be released in the Philippine cinemas this March, a little in-depth information about the book version, Guy realized that during the exhaustive research how false her centuries-old reputation was. She was not “a femme fatale and manipulative siren who ruled from passion,” but a forward-thinking female ruler entrapped by the impossible circumstances of the 16^th century patriarchy.

But what happened to that hideous evolution of Queen Elizabeth I’s face in the movie?

Played by Margot Robbie in the film, Elizabeth “was absolutely forged in the fire of the tribulations of her adolescence,” said Guy, recounting how Elizabeth’s father had her mother executed. Elizabeth I is famous for her face powder. Why she wore it and whether it poisoned her is complicated.

Young Elizabeth was reportedly a naturally good-looking woman. She is tall and well-formed, with a good skin. She also has fine eyes and above all, a beautiful hand which she makes display. With regards to this, Margot Robbie enjoyed getting prosthetics, white chalk powder, and red wig in order to stay true to the appearance.

If you want to watch this, watch it with your family and friends!